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THE 



KINGDOM OF BRASS 



OR THE 



HISTORY OF THE WORLD 



BIRTH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT 



TO THE 



BIETH OP CHRIST, 



INCLUDIXG THE 



HISTORY OF JUDEA DURING THAT PERIOD. 



'And another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over the whole earth. 



By R. B. BEMENT, 



AUTHOR OF SEVERAL WORKS OX AXCIKNT HISTORY, 




C INCINNATI: 
MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS ^^TTO . 

25 West Fourth Street, 
1 8 o G . 



THE LIBRARY 
OF CONGRESS 

WASHINGTON i 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 

MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO., 

In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern 

District of Ohio. 



stereotyped and Printed by 
WILLIAM OVEREND&CO. 



3^1 






i' CONTENTS 



Introduction '^''^' 

9 

Sketchofthe Life of Alexander 

Fate of the Family of Alexander ' oo 

Fate of the principal Officers „/> 

oo 

Ptolemy Soter 

Coronation of Philadelphus ^^ 

-. . oQ 

l^omestic troubles in Macedon 

Woman's rule in Lybia 

Life of Seleucus Nicator 

77 

Antiochus Soter 

79 

Antiochus Theos 

82 

Ptolemy Evergetes 

Hierax 

„ 88 

Events in Macedon 

, . 90 

Antiochus the Great 

• go 

Battle of Kaphia 

. , 107 

Acngeus 

J23 

Ptolemy Epiphanes 

Antiochus in the East 

Demetrius and Philip of Macedon -.o. 

Invasion of Rhodes, Sios and Abydos by Philip of Macedon.'''..'.'.*.*.".'".' uq 

Antiochus and the Romans 

150 

Death of Antiochus the Great 

Seleucus Philopator 

Ptolemy Philometor 

Antiochus Epiphanes 

Death of Epiphanes 

199 

(V) 



VI CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Antiochus Eupator 204 

Jewish History 208 

Ptolemy Physcon 246 

Alexander Bala 249 

Demetrius Nicator 250 

Antiochus Sidetes 254 

Ptolemy Lathja-us 267 

Alexander I. and II 263 

Death of the Syrian Cleopatra 267 

Fall of Syria 272 

Ptolemy Auletes 276 

Synopsis of the fate of Syrian Kings 278 

Cleopatra of Egypt 279 

Battle of Actium 300 

Death of Marc Antony 309 

Death of Cleopatra 310 



PREFACE 



Having personally visited the ground and devoted much time 
and care to the study of the history of Egypt, and in the prep- 
aration of a large work on ancient history, (which was unfortu- 
nately lost after it had gone into the hands of the printer,) I 
determined to prepare a small work embracing only the history 
of Egypt from the time of Alexander to the beginning of the 
Christian era, to be called The Laqidje, or ^g^j^f under the 
Ptolemies. This work had advanced to the time of Physcon, 
when it became apparent that the history of Egypt could not 
well be kept distinct from that of other branches of Alexander's 
vast empire. At that stage the purpose was formed of enlarg- 
ing the work, filling up a few gaps, and including the four heads 
of the third beast of Daniel's vision. After much effort, I found 
it impracticable to avoid an occasional repetition of the same 
substantial facts, as they affected different governments ; but in 
this respect I believe I have been more methodical than the old 
authors, although less so than I could desire. I have kept con- 
stantly before the mind the connection between the sacred prophets, 
especially Daniel, and the history to which the prophecies referred. 
This work has been prepared under peculiar embarrassments. 
My time has been chiefly devoted to public lectures on ancient 

(vii) 



vm PREFACE. 

history, and it was only at intervals that attention could be 
devoted to the work. The loss of the manuscripts for the 
larger work rendered references very inconvenient. Owing to a 
partial failure of my sight, I have been obliged to employ an 
amanuensis. Consequently, some difficulty has arisen in filling 
up gaps, and gliding gracefully from one subject to another. 
No other writer, so far as I know, has attempted to furnish a 
connected history exclusively devoted to this period of time, or 
its harmony with the sacred scriptures. It is therefore hoped 
that with whatever of defect it may contain, this work may 
meet with a charitable and favorable reception from the public 
and the press. R. B. BEMENT. 



INTRODUCTION 



TO THE HISTOKY OP 



ALEXANDER AND HIS SUCCESSORS, 



The unparalleled suddenness of the rise, extension, and dis- 
memberment of the Macedonian empire, was like the unexpected 
appearance of a magnificent comet, filling the vaulted arch with its 
dazzling radiance, streaming through the heavens from the western 
horizon to the verge of the east, then with terrific explosion 
bursting into four new planets, with many a lesser corruscation, 
whose meteoric and unsteady lights one by one paled and finally 
disappeared, leaving the four prominent ones for a time to circle 
in their eccentric orbit, coming frequently in collision with fear- 
ful encounter, then rebounding apart, until the larger brilliant 
orb of day made its appearance and absorbed all four into its 
self. 

In extent, Alexander's empire embraced more than all that of 
Nebuchadnezzar. In rapidity of enlargement, it surpassed that 
of Cyrus. And in many points of comparison it exceeded both, 
justifying the language of the prophet, " and bear rule over all 
the earth." This empire, with its subdivisions, is justly called the 
Kingdom of Brass. While gold is the appropriate emblem of will, 
strong, indomitable, successful at home, brass expresses a simi- 
lar will going abroad to execute its purpose. For this reason, brass 

(ix) 



X INTRODUCTION. 

is often represented as appertaining to the feet, ready to go forth 
to execute the will. " His feet were as pillars of brass, as if 
they burned in a furnace." 

The history of Alexander and his successors furnishes a great 
number of episodes or solitary fragments of history, whose trag- 
ical character is of surpassing interest ; but clustered together, 
they exhibit such a brilliancy of sparkling gems as can be gath- 
ered no where else in so limited a space of time. 

In itself, this history has merit that deserves more attention 
and careful study tlian it has usually received. But there is 
another aspect of this subject that demands our special atten- 
tion. This period of time was the theme of prophetic vision, 
and in its elements we find a most complete demonstration of the 
truth and divine authenticity of the sacred writings. 

After a few brilliant visions abounding in rich imagery, rep- 
resenting the future history of four successive great kingdoms, 
and the final triumph of truth and righteousness, the prophet 
Daniel drops from the sublime scenery of emblems into plain, 
literal, and common language, and describes with minuteness 
these governments in collision, the results of their battles, the 
reg.ular succession of princes that participated in the history of 
the third kingdom, and the particular character of each, man by 
man, as a king of fierce countenance, the raiser of taxes, the 
vile person, etc., etc. 

The history of the Israelites, and especially the Jews, is a 
subject of much interest to the student of the Bible. 

Except the books of Maccabees, which are far from being reli- 
able, but little of their condition from the close of their captivity 
to the time of Christ, has hitherto been published in the English 
language, and that little is so merged in the history of others as 
to be difiicult to comprehend, leaving but vague and indefinite 
impressions upon the mind of the student. 

In the following pages an effort is made, after the time of the 
Epiphanes, to separate partially the history of the Jews from 
that of the suiTOunding nations. 



INTRODUCTION. XI 

It will be seen that after the death of Zedekiah, who was 
deposed by Nebuchadnezzar, B. C. 588, none of the tribe of 
Judah reigned over this people. 

Authority, so far as any remained in Judea, was lodged in 
the hands of the high priesthood of the tribe of Levi, and when 
the kingly form of government was again restored, the crown 
was placed upon the head of that officer, and not upon a Jew. 

If the law-giver did not depart from Judah he was not of that 
tribe, although he dwelt among them and ruled over them. 

Of the ten tribes, often called the lost tribes, the most proba- 
ble opinion is, that during the captivity all became blended in 
one nation, under the general name of Jews. 

The conquest of so many nations by Alexander at this partic- 
ular period, was admirably adapted to prepare the way of the 
Lord ; to aid in the early and rapid spread of the gospel ^ of the 
blessed God. These nations were at that time the most intelli- 
gent and energetic people upon the face of the whole earth; 
they surrounded Judea on all sides ; they spoke a great variety 
of tongues. 

The Macedonian supremacy diffused a knowledge of the Greek 
language through all the different tribes of the family of man. 

Before the time of Christ, so extended had become that lan- 
guage that almost every where in the higher circles the Greek 
was spoken, whereby not only apostles inspired with the gift of 
tongues were able to address the common multitude, but unin- 
spired ministers of the word could address the rulers and dis- 
tinguished personages in a large portion of the world. 

The subsequent subjection of all to Eome opened also the 
means of intercommunication between these different nations. 

All these must have been by divine arrangement to facilitate 
the accomplishment of that which the council of heaven had 
determined, and which the Lord had declared by his servants the 
prophets. 



THE 



KIN&DOM OF BRASS 



SKETCH OP THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER. 

And as T was considering, behold an he-goat came from the west on 
the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground ; and the goat 
had a notable horn between his eyes. Daniel viii: 5. 

Three hundred and fifty-six years before the birth of 
Christ, a remarkable personage was ushered into this world 
from Beecher's preexistent state, around whose cradle the 
fates held court, and upon whose decree hung the destiny 
of many nations as they were to be borne on the bosom of 
the resistless stream of future time. Alexander the Con- 
queror was born at Pella, a city of Macedon. 

This country comprised the western half of modern 
Turkey in Europe, while the eastern half of the same 
country was called Thrace. About 398 years before the 
birth of Christ, Macedon was governed by King Amyntas, 
whose wife's name was Eurydice, by whom he had Alexan- 
der, Perdiccas and Philip ; and by another woman, Ptolemy. 

Amyntas died about 379 years before Christ, and his 
son Alexander took the throne, but perished in war after 
a reign of one year. The only important event in his 
administration was, that he delivered his infant brother, 

(13) 



14 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Philip, a hostage into the hands of his enemies, the Illyr- 
ians, who soon sent him safely back to his mother. 

Perdiccas ascended the throne of Macedon, not without 
much opposition from his cousin Pausanias. Philip was 
again delivered to the Thebans as a hostage, where he 
received an excellent Grecian education, being about ten 
years of age when he went to Thebes. About ten years 
later, Perdiccas was slain in battle. 

In the midst of confusion in Macedon, Philip, who had 
escaped from his keepers, appeared suddenly and unex- 
pectedly in the camp of his countrymen, and was at once 
proclaimed king, to the exclusion of the son of Perdiccas, 
who was an infant. 

For the first four years, Philip only claimed to govern 
as Prince protector of the infant heir ; but in the twenty- 
fourth year of his age, 360 years before Christ, he assumed 
the crown. 

In his administration he displayed the skill and ability 
of a xliscreet politician, a crafty statesman, and an able 
general. His domestic relations were quite unfortunate. 
His first wife was Olympias of Epyrus, by whom he had 
Alexander the Great, and two daughters, Cleopatra and 
Thessalonica. Olympias was a woman of great energy 
and decision of character, but most haughty and unloveable 
in her spirit. Indeed she was a Macedonian edition of 
Jezebel, but Philip was not another Ahab to submit to her 
authority. Tired of her evil machinations, Philip divorced 
Olympias, and married Cleopatra, a Macedonian lady, a 
niece of Attains. The nuptials of Philip and Cleopatra 
were celebrated with great pomp, but before^the festival closed 
they had a regular famili/ jar. As we may well suppose, 
Alexander was in no very pleasant state of mind, to see 
his mother set aside and another introduced in lier place. 
Attains drank a toast, and called upon the Macedonians to 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 15 

thank the gods for the prospect of a native prince to lieir 
the throne of Philip. This was an allusion to the fact that 
Oljmpias ^yas not a native of Macedon. The words of 
Attains fell upon the ear of Alexander like a spark of fire 
upon a magazine of powder. Seizing a goblet of wine, he 
furiously dashed it at the head of the insolent nobleman, 
exclaiming, ''Wretch! do you call me illegitimate?'^ 
Attalus returned the compliment by hurling a'^iother cup 
at Alexander. The quarrel became general, and cups and 
wine flew plentifully about the hall. Philip, who had 
received many wounds in battle, had become somewhat 
infirm. He arose from his rqyal seat, and with drawn 
sword, in wrath advanced across ^he hall t(f chastise his son 
for disturbing the banquet. In his effort, he stumbled and 
fell to the floor. Alexander, not in the least intimidated, 
pointed at his fallen father and exclaimed, "A fine kint^ 
have you to lead the army to war against the Persians'^ 
when he can not cross a %nquet hall without falling. I 
will show you in due time who can govern Macedon."^ 

The attendants ultimately separated the parties and 
ended the present commotion. The little horn of the rough 
he-goat seen in Daniel's vision had begun to manifest itself. 
The energy and boldness of Alexander gave foreshadow- 
ings of his future career. But this is not the end of this 
unfortunate jar. There is scarce room to doubt that on 
that day Philip, great King of Macedon, sold his own life 
for a trifle. Subsequent events were the off'spring of that 
night's deeds. 

Oh, how often do parents forget that children will one 
day be older and will remember their early wrongs. 
Some ten years after this occurrence, Cleopatra, not the 
wife but the daughter of Philip, was married to a King of 
Epyrus, and a great ceremony was performed in lienor of 
the nuptials. A grand procession marched toward tU 



16 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

temple. Philip, walking, dressed in all the gayety of royal 
robes, in a prominent part of the procession, was stabbed, 
and sunk dead in the street. The assassin was caught and 
put to death ; but there is no reason to doubt that Olym- 
pias and Alexander were the instigators of the murder. 
Thus perished King Philip, about 336 years before Christ. 
After having conquered many nations, and won victories in 
many a battle field, he fell by the stratagem of his own 
family, and died as a fool dieth. 

CHART OF THE FAMILY OF PHILIP. 

Brothers — Alexander, Perdiccas, Ptolemy. 

Wives and i^yon7es — ^ Olympias, Cleopatra, Audaca, 
Philinna, Arsinoe. 

Children — By Olympias : Alexander, Cleopatra, Thessa- 
lonica. By Cleopatra: Caranus and Europa (both mur- 
dered by Olympias.) By Audaca : Cyna, (Eurydice, grand- 
child). By Philinna a Lariss^aj^ dancer : Aridseus. By 
Arsinoe : Ptolemy, King of Egypt. 

Arideus subsequently married Eurydice, daughter of 
Cyna. 

Alexander had no sooner ascended the throne of his 
father, than, he began to plan for the invasion of Persia. 
This had been a favorite topic with his predecessors, 
none of whom had, however, been able to put their plans 
into execution. To comprehend the inducement to such an 
undertaking, we must review a few past events and the 
th.en state of the world. Asia Minor, lying between the 
Black and Mediterranean Seas, was divided into a number 
of states and provinces, among which were Lydia, Phrygia, I 
Bythinia, Capadocia, Mysia, and Cilicia. These colonies 
had, in a great measure, been settled by Grecian emigra- 
tion. The majority of the people spoke a dialect of the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 17 

Greek language. Their manners, customs, literature and 
religion were Grecian. For a time they had been governed 
hy their own laws, and rulers of their own choosing, but 
had gradually lost their independence and were subjected 
to petty kings and local governors, whose avarice and cru- 
elty knew no bounds. The Persian monarchs had subjected 
these states to their dictation, and appointed satraps as local 
governors over them who were the mere creatures of the 
Persian court. It is therefore not surprising that the 
Greeks, a bold, free and independent people, should sympa- 
thise with these brethren in Asia Minor, and that collisions 
and acts of violence should frequently occur in which Greece 
and Persia should be found on opposite sides. These events 
had at an earlier date led Darius and Xerxes to attempt 
the invasions and conquest of Greece. Their invasions 
ending in ignominious defeats, had created hereditary hate 
between the two races. Greece feared Persia and desired 
her humiliation. Persia detested the free spirit of Greece 
which was dangerous to her dependencies in that quarter of 
of the empire. Macedon was indeed an emj)ire of itself, 
separate from the Grecian states, but it was also originally 
a colony of Grecian emigration ; as among themselves the 
Greek, the Macedonian and the Epirots are spoken, of as 
distinct nations, but as relating to the rest of the world they 
are all Greeks. Alexander soonl)rought all the discordant 
Grecian elements into one general consolidation and him- 
self at their head. He had ascended the throne of his 
father in the year 336, being but twenty years of age, and 
in two years he was prepared to march against Persia. He 
had in his army a staff of officers, a body of men aged, expe- 
rienced, grave, and any of whom was capable of taking the 
entire command of a great expedition and conducting a 
grand campaign with ability. Most of them were older 
than himself and had served in the wars of his father; 

9 



18 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

several of them were persons more or less related to him- 
self. Alexander, in the expedition, was the motive power — 
the steam-engine ; his able officers the engineers — the 
directors of that power. With the youthful ardor of the 
ambitious Alexander and the sedate wisdom of Perdiccas 
Antipater and others, we might expect an energetic war, 
terminating in triumph. 

The Persian empire had now existed about two hundred 
years from the year 536 B. C. Its authority extended 
to the great seas of the West. Under its control where 
Egypt, Palestine, Syria, and Asia IMinor, with all that once 
was Assyria, Babylonia, Media, Parthia and Elimea. But 
luxury had enervated its monarchs and corrupted its loaders 
and people, so that Persia, though vast in dimensions, was 
like an old, feeble, doting man, trembling and ready to fall, 
yet full of vanity and boasting of its strength. Alexander 
crossed the straits wdth an army w\41 disciplined, and 
inured to toil and hardship, but small in number and almost 
entirely without funds. They trusted not to their purses 
but to their swords to obtain supplies. The first battle was 
fought in the waters and on the banks of the Grauicus, 
where victory after a severe struggle, crowned the standard 
of the Europeans. About two years were devoted to the 
conquest of Asia Minor, whose satraps, creatures of the 
Persian court, resisted manfully but unsuccessfully the 
invaders, while Darius, for whom they were contending, was 
still devoting himself to pleasure and debauchery at Susa, 
not yet having moved to the aid of his dependent provinces. 
Alexander having subdued all the states of Asia Minor, went 
into winter quarters at Tarsus, the future birth-place of the 
Apostle Paul, the locality of the first interview of Marc 
Antony with the captivating Cleopatra. The next year, 
332, was one of great events in the field of Mars : Darius, 
aroused from his dream, advanced with a large army to 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 19 

check the progress of the Macedonian hero. This army- 
was large only in numbers, not in soldiers. They were a 
body of proud, conceited, dissolute men, women, and servants, 
rendered vicious and effeminate by the example and au- 
thority of the king; there was great display of riches; 
silks and tapestry adorned the gorgeous oriental tents, 
there were cushions and divans, cups of gold and silver and 
wines to fill them ; but these were not the best implements 
with which to meet a rude and hardy yet well disciplined 
army of Greece. 

Alexander was crossing the mountains of Amanus, which 
separate Syria from Cilicia, througli the gap or pass. When 
he learned that Darius and the Pc>rsian army, having crossed 
through the northern pass, were now in his roar, he suddenly 
wheeled, and turning into Cilicia, met" and in the famous 
battle of Issus conquered and entirely defeated the nume- 
rous hosts of the Persians. Darius, indeed, escaped with 
but so few men that little more is heard of him for two 
years. Alexander now sent forward one of his generals 
through the pass and down southward on the east of Anti- 
Lebanon to Damascus, where that officer was so successful 
as to capture the city, with most of the treasures of Darius 
which had been deposited there; he also made prisoners of 
the mother, wife, sister, and other female members of the 
I family of the Persian King. Alexander himself, with part 
! of his army, proceeded along the coast through Phoenicia. 
On his right the great sea rolled its waves and lashed the 
shore, here and there wearing into the land, and forming 
beautiful bays and sheltering harbors where the Phoeni- 
cians moored their vessels returning from commercial enter- 
prises, pushed by them into all waters. On his left were 
the mountains of Lebanon whose highest peaks ascend ten 
thousand feet above the level of the sea and are capped 
with perpetual snow. The sides of these mountains are 



20 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

adorned with cedar and fir trees, whose evergreen foliage 
was an emblem of the unfading laurels of fame which were 
to repose upon the brow of the youthful hero : between the 
mountain and the sea is a narrow slope of arable land 
watered by many a brawling rivulet whose contents leaped 
from the cliffs and were discharged into the sea below. 

But why moves Alexander in this direction ? It must 
be recollected that Phoenicia, except Tyre, had been 
annexed to Assyria under Shalmanezer, of Nineveh, and 
in the overthrow of that city had passed to the kingdom of 
Babylon ; then following its fortunes, Phoenicia passed into 
the possession of the Persians ; here also lay all the mari- 
time strength of the enemy. It was, therefore, expedient 
to secure the cooperation of the Phoenicians, before Alexan- 
der could safely proceed in his Eastern enterprise. Beritus, 
Tripoli, and Sidon gladly threw off the yoke of the Persians, 
and opening their gates to him, joined the standard of the 
hero of Macedon. Tyre resisted not so much out of regard 
for Persia as from a desire for independence ; but after seven 
months siege the proud city of commerce was humbled in the 
dust and all western Asia was subjected to Alexander. 

At the south-east angle of the Mediterranean sea stood, 
anciently, the city of Gaza. Many a heathen writer refers 
to the events said to have transpired in and around this 
spot, when the demigods dwelt upon the earth and mingled 
in the affairs of men. It is quite uncertain, however, 
when or by whom Gaza was founded. In the time of 
Joshua, and for many years afterward, it was in the pos- 
session of the Philistines, but ultimately, upon the exter- 
mination of that race, it became the property of the 
kingdom of Judah. In common with the rest of Judah, it 
became subject to Babylon, and at the fall of that empire, 
it passed to the scepter of the Persians. Situated as it 
once was, on the angle of the sea, and commanding the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 21 

high road from Asia into JEgypt, it was ever deemed of 
great military importance. 

It is now governed by a Bey, or Satrap, of the Pasha of 
Egypt. The modern city of Gaza is situated some miles 
back from the sea, whether precisely on the spot of the 
ancient city or not it is hard to determine. All along this 
coast the sea has in the course of centuries receded far 
from the ancient land-mark, leaving a long line of sandy 
beach in many places, so that cities once seaports are left 
quite remote from the waters. The probability is, there- 
fore, that Gaza has not been removed, but that the sea has 
deserted it. This city has been the theater of many a 
bloody strife, both in ancient and modern times. 

Darius liad placed as governor over Gaza a eunuch by 
the name of Betis. That class of persons seem to have 
been favorites with several of the Persian monarchs, yet 
they were often deceitful, treacherous, and unworthy of 
confidence, often killing their masters, as in tlie case of 
Xerxes and Ochus. To this charge of infidelity, Betis was 
not obnoxious. The defeat of Darius, the capture of the 
treasures and family, and the triumph of the enemy, failed 
to overcome the steadfast attachment of this governor to 
his sovereign. 

Alexander was now marching toward Egypt, and Gaza 
lay across his path. After the terrible siege and final fate 
of Tyre, it would not be supposed that Gaza, far inferior 
in strength, would attempt resistance ; yet Betis, and many 
of the people, true to their lawful sovereign, rejected all 
overtures of surrender. Alexander besieged the city, but 
with all the ingenuity and courage of his men, he occupied 
two months in making a breach in the wall and capturing 
the city, which was well fortified and abundantly supplied 
with provisions and munitions of war. Alexander received 
two wounds in the siege, which greatly enraged him against 



22 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

the governor and liis people. He caused two thousand 
persons to be cut to pieces, and the rest of the men, women 
and children to be sold as slaves. After insulting Betis 
for his fidelity to his master, he caused him to be put to 
death in a most cruel manner. Like Achilles to Hector, 
he caused holes to be made in the heels of his victim, 
through which he passed ropes and attached them to a 
chariot, and dragged the unhappy governor through the 
streets and around the city until ho was dead. All the 
treasure found in Gaza was sent by Alexander to his 
mother and sisters in Macedon. However commendable 
might have been his affection for his relatives, who can 
excuse this monstrous wholesale robbery and butchery of a 
whole city for no offense except fidelity to the government 
under which they were born ? The character of Alexan- 
der appears at times like an April day : now the sun shines 
out in loveliness and not a cloud is to be seen ; yet before 
you can walk an hundred yards, the moisture of the atmos- 
phere has condensed into dark clouds, and torrents of rain 
descend. You fly for shelter, but before you can arrive the 
storm is past, the sun throws off its veil, and all nature 
smiles asiain with cheerfulness. So with the hero of Ma- 
cedon. We can hardly suppress the emotions of delight, 
and the acclamations of applause in view of his kind and 
affectionate treatment of his royal prisoners or other objects 
of compassion, or we are ready to wish him universal 
empire for his wise and heroic actions on the field of bat- 
tle ; but before these emotions have subsided, or another 
page of his history is read, we are shocked at his barbarity 
toward some faithful officer. Such must be the feelings of 
every human heart on reading of the massacre of Tyre 
and of Gaza. Alexander was founding the kingdom of 
the Leopard, and in this character we must expect to find 
the bright and dark spots which distinguish that animal. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 23 

We must expect to find in him and his kingdom oftentimes 
the playfulness and the treachery, the affection and the 
cruelty of the Leopard. 

The summer was now passed, and the hero marched 
toward Egypt, for the overflowing had subsided, and the 
rio^ht season had arrived for strangers to visit the land of the 
Pharaoh. Egypt, the early land of science, the theme of 
sacred and profane pens, was not now what it had once been. 
About 685 years before the birth of Christ, after a period 
of anarchy, twelve princes had divided and ruled the land ; 
one of them, Psammetichus, by the aid of Greek soldiers, had 
expelled his eleven associates and established himself sole 
monarch of Egypt. Under his protection the Greeks found 
a peaceful home. In the higher circles the Greek lan- 
guage was taught, and began to be much spoken through- 
out Egypt, while the Coptic gradually declined. The 
Greek spirit of enterprise was favorably improving the 
sluggish and exhausted energies of other times. The 
Egyptians worshiped gods representing the sublime and 
mysterious powers of nature ; to these gods they had 
erected temples and consecrated images in common with 
living animals, and representing the elements. A wise 
and learned priestly class, or caste, had the care of the 
temples, the sacrifices, and the secret mysteries. The Per- 
sians were of a different cast ; they worshiped the lumi- 
nary in the heavens and the sacred fire, his holy offspring. 
They reared altars on hills, in valleys and in groves, but 
temples they had none ; they repudiated devotion in dark 
recesses where the light of the sun was not admitted ; they 
abhorred priests, temples, and idols. Cambyses had demol- 
ished their temples, rifled their contents, carried of!' their 
gods, and degraded their priesthood. The Persian rule 
had been ever after averse to what the Egyptians would 



24 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

call piety; the country had languished, its revenue had 
heen exhausted, and its fertile plains badly cultivated. 

The Macedonians and Greeks were worshipers of idols; 
they had lords many and gods many ; they had temples 
and images also representing the powers of nature ; there 
were many points held in common between the Egyptian 
and the Greek ; indeed, much of the science and philoso- 
phy of Greece had been borrowed from the Egyptian uni- 
versity at Onn. When Alexander approached Pelusium, the 
Egyptian army was there, as in duty bound to resist him, 
the enemy of their lawful sovereign, the king of Persia. 
Alexander sent a messenger to proclaim to them that he 
had not come to do them harm, but to break the Persian 
yoke, to restore to Egypt her former glory — her temples — 
her religion, and her ancient prosperity. This appeal from 
the commands of a people of similar religion, speaking a 
language that was common in Egypt, could not fail to be 
successful, attributing all their misfortunes to the impiety 
and misrule of the Persians, and desiring again the days 
when heavenly incense and joyous song should ascend in 
the sacred edifices. The Egyptians at once opened their 
hearts and their arms to receive Alexander as their deliv- 
erer and benefactor. It was a bloodless victory, and the 
jewel of Egypt was plucked from the crown of Persia. 
The array proceeded to Memphis with mirth and joy 
abounding. 

Alexander was a philosopher, a scholar, and a statesman, 
as well as a warrior. He knew that no small part of Gre- 
cian prosperity was owing to her commerce. He had heard 
of the policy of Solomon, who, by commercial enterprise, 
had made gold and silver to abound in Jerusalem ; he had 
spent a summer in Phoenicia, whose fame had gone over 
the world, whose commerce had traversed every sea, and 



THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 25 

returninij home had enriched the coffers of the bold ship- 
masters. In the recent siege and terrible resistance of 
Tyre, he had a demonstration of the energy and wealth 
which commerce confers upon a maritime people. It was 
now the policy as well as the good pleasure of Alexander 
to secure the attachment of the Egyptians, so that no reac- 
tion or revolution might disturb him when he should be 
prepared to direct his march toward the heart of th^ Per- 
sian empire. He also foresaw that if Egypt, one of the 
Persian dependencies, which without resistance submitted 
to him, should become prosperous and happy under his 
authority, it must have an influence upon the other nations 
whom he yet intended to invade and pluck from the Per- 
sian land. To his observing eye it was apparent that this 
land of fertility needed only commercial advantao-es to 
make her prosperous ; she bordered upon two seas, yet she 
had almost no harbor and no commerce. The Eed Sea was 
only approachable through trackless deserts ; the mouths 
of the Nile were blocked up by sandbars, hence only small 
craft, with the utmost difficulty and in the most favorable 
weather, could approach them along this portion of the 
J Egyptian coast on the Mediterranean. 
I At a little village called Ehacotis the sea rounded up 
I and formed a tolerable basin, with water of a better depth • 
nature Iiad here formed a better harbor than at any point 
on the Egyptian coast ; this harbor might be improved and 
made to answer this purpose. Here Alexander founded a 
pity, calling it after his own name, Alexandria, and invited 
j3eople from many nations to repair thither. 
1^ About one hundred miles west of Egypt is an oasis, a 
ertile sp()t in the desert, known as Elcargar. This green 
pot IS about fifteen miles in length, and from two to four 
Qiles wide. In the midst of a grove of dates and figs on 
he western end of the oasis stood an ancient templp devoted 



26 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

to the worship of the god Jupiter Ammon, the princi- 
pal deity of the ancient Egyptians. These people were 
greatly devoted to their religious services, and when all 
Egypt had fallen before the invading Persians, Jupiter 
Ammon in Elcargar had escaped. In this sacred retreat, 
a few of the Egyptian priests still resided. To please 
these priests, and through them to win the affections of 
the people of all Egypt, was a wise political measure. 

Alexander left Ehacotis, and through almost intermin- 
ahle sands made a pilgrimage to the temple of the ram- 
headed deity in the sacred groves of the lonely retreat. 
There he honored the priests and offered incense to the 
deity. He then requested the hierophant to inquire of the 
divinity through the oracle, the answer to two questions : 
First, whether he, Alexander, was not the son of the god 
Jupiter Ammon. This to us may seem an absurd and 
foolish question, but we must recollect that most of the 
famous heathen deities had once been men of distinction upon 
earth. The ambition of kings and conquerors to be called 
deities at their departure from earth, had once been quite 
universal ; this vanity had nearly ceased before the time 
of Alexander, but the custom had not been forgotten. It 
was not, therefore, so unnatural that the Macedonian should 
desire to be officially and ecclesiastically declared the son 
of a god. However little he might credit their oracles, it 
would not only flatter his vanity, but also increase his 
power and influence over a superstitious people. It was 
rather a political than a pious device. To this question 
the subservient priests caused the oracle to respond that 
Alexander of Macedon was the natural son of Jupiter 
Ammon, the father of all the gods, and the especial pro- 
tector of Egypt. 

The next question addressed to the oracle was, whether 
all the accessories to the murder of Alexander's father had 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 27 

been brought to condign punishment. It will be recollected 
that Philip, the father of Alexander, had been slain in the 
midst of a wedding procession, and that the assassin had 
been immediately after slain, and that suspicion was cast 
upon Alexander himself and his mother, Oljmpias, as 
being instigators of the deed. Whether this charge was 
or was not true, it became Alexander to remove the stain 
bj a real or affected earnestness in punishing the culprits, 
if any could be discovered. It was natural, therefore, for 
him to make this inquiry of the oracle, however little he 
might care for the murder, or however still less he might 
credit the answer of the oracle. But Alexander had jtst 
been declared the son of Jupiter Ammon, not of Philip 
of Macedon. To the second question the oracle replied 
that the inquirer, being the son of a god, his father could 
not die, bat was immortal ; but for the gratification of 
Alexander, the oracle would inform him that all the mur- 
i derers of Philip had made their appearance in the land of 
I the shades. Olympias, the mother of Alexander, still 
; lived. When she heard of his divine pretensions, she wrote 
I to him a mirthful letter, cautioning him to beware lest, 
jclaiming to be the son of Jupiter Ammon, he should bring 
jhis mother into disrepute for her unchastity and unfaith- 
I fulness to king Philip.=^.-= Better would it have been for her 
Ireputation if she had not herself given other and stronger 
'proofs of her inconstancy than those declared by the oracle 
m the oasis of the desert. 

I ^ From the desert, Alexander returned into Egypt, and 
aewed his new planned city, made some regulations for 
'he government of Egypt, and proceeded with his army 
nto Asia. This was in the autumn of 331 B. C. 

^In another letter, Olympias cautioned Alexander not to get his 
-other into difficulty, by exciting the jealousy of Juno, who, by heathen 
ythology, was the wife of Jupiter Ammon. 



2g THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

In Asia, the usual good fortune attended Alexander. 
He met and defeated Darius in the famous battle of Arbela, 
conquered Babylon, Susa, Rasagarda, Persepolis Ecba- 
tana, and subdued Hyerama, Bactria, India and many 
other provinces, and at length returned triumphant to BaV 
ylon, having fulfilled the words of the prophet, that the 
he-goat of the west should stamp the Persians in the 
ground, and that none could deliver Persia out of his hand. 
Thus did the kingdom of brass rule over the earth. Darius, 
the last king of the Persians, was assassinated by his 
own attendants in the year 330 B. C, and thus ended the 
empire of the Persians, which had continued from the 
crowning of Cyrus, 206 years, or from the rise of he 
Medo-Persian armies 210 years, which may have been the 
meaning of the angel when he told Darius that the prmce 
of Persia resisted him one and twenty days before the 
crowning of the prince of Greece, a day sometimes indica- 
ting a decade of years instead of a year. 

But the little horn was to be broken. Alexander, up to 
the time of Darius, had practiced great temperance, kind- 
ness, forbearance, and chastity, but from and after that 
time he began- to give loose to an imperious temper and 
sensual indulgence. He now unjustly caused the de^th ot 
Parmenio, one of his oldest and most faithful generals, and 
his son Philotas, neither of whom was proved to be guilty 
of any offense. He assumed the gorgeous dress of the 
orientals, and had around him a host of concubines. His 
tables began to abound in luxuries; eff-eminacy was fast 
conquering the conqueror of the World. At Babylon he 
devoted himself so supremely to intemperance and debauch, 
that he died of a fever induced by excessive use of wine. 
His death occurred in the year "233 B. C. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 29 



FATE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OF ALEXANDER. 

" And when he was strong, the great horn was broken," " And when 
he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided 
towards the four winds of heaven, and not to his posterity nor according 
to his dominion which he ruled." Daniel. 

Twelve princes and princesses of tlie royal line survived 
the great hero : 

1st. Olympias, his mother, slain by Cassander, 317. 

2d. Cleopatra, his sister, a widow, slain by A.ntigonus, 308. 

3d. Thessalonica, a sister, wife of Cassander, slain by 
Antipater, 294. 

4th. Aridseus Philip, a half-brother, slain by Olympias, 317. 

5th. Eurydice, wife of Aridseus, slain by Olympias, 317. 

6th. Statira, a Persian wife, poisoned by Eoxana, 323. 

7th. Eoxana, a Macedonian wife, slain by Cassander, 311. 

8th. Alexander, son of Eoxana, slain by Cassander, 311. 

9th. Barsina, a Thracian wife, slain by Polysphercon, 310. 

10th. Hercules, son of Barsina, slain by Polysphercon, 
310. 

11th. Antipater, son of Thessalonica, died in prison, 
294. 

12th. Alexander, son of Thessalonica, slain by Demetrius, 
294. 

How vain and fruitless are the wild schemes of mad 

ambition, when unsanctified or unrestrained by a sense of 

j justice. Men of violence, though successful in their enter- 

I prises, seldom derive the advantage they propose to them- 

I selves. That very success is often destructive to them and 

their families. Alexander had extended the empire of his 

fathers over the fairest portions of the earth, but instead 

of transmitting it to his posterity, their only legacy was 

treason, murder and extermination. 



80 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

In the fate of all the kindred of Alexander, modern 
statesmen and rulers might learn the solemn lesson of the 
higher law : that the heavens do rule, and what God hath 
spoken hy the mouth of His holy Prophets, he is not only 
able but will perform. 

DEATH OF STATIRA, B. C. 323. 

Alexander died suddenly in Babylon, at the age of thirty- 
three years, and left the family and relatives named in the 
above list. Statira was a Persian princess of the family 
of Darius. Alexander the younger, was not born until a 
few months after his fathers' death. Roxana hoped soon 
to become the mother of a son who should be heir to the 
kingdom, and fearing Statira might be in the same condi- 
tion, and furnish a rival who might mar her own prospects, 
she removed Statira by inviting her to a banquet, in which 
that accomplished princess was poisoned, and expired in a 
few hours. Her death extinguished the royal line of Persia. 

DEATH OF ARIDiEUS AND EURYDICE, B. C. 317. 

Philip, the father of Alexander, had six wives, or at 
least, favorites. No mention is made of any other son 
until after the death of Alexander, when Aridaeus came to 
notice. He was the son of a Larissean dancing woman. 
Olympias having been divorced, and fearing that this prince 
might become the rival of her own son, found means to 
administer to Aridseus, while a child, a dose of poison which, 
although it did not cause his immediate death, permanently 
destroyed his senses. He was sixteen years of age when 
Alexander died. 

As will be seen in another place, the generals of Alexan- 
der associated Aridseus with the infant son of the hero, and 
gave them the empty title of kings. After the death of 
Perdiccas the kings were committed to the custody of Anti- 
pater of Macedon ; then to his son Cassander. Aridseus 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 31 

married Eurydice, daughter of Cina, and grand-daughter 
of Philip hj another woman. 

Polysphercon and Cassander were rivals for the regency 
of Macedon. To weaken the cause of Cassander and 
strengthen his own, Polysphercon brought Olympias from 
Epirus, her native land, into the capital of Macedon where 
as the mother of the hero and the grand-mother of the infant 
king, she soon gained adherents, and established herself 
at the head of government. Had she grown wiser and bet- 
ter by a long and severe experience, and used her authority 
with moderation and equity, she might have maintained 
her position, and rendered the close of her life more calm 
and happy : but born in the midst of tempestuous times, and 
soured by adversity, she remained haughty, imperious and 
implacable. She immediately caused the king, Aridgeus, to 
be put to death, and his wife Eurydice, to be thrown into 
prison. Inveterate against all the branches of the royal 
family except her own, she sent to the prisoner a dagger, 
a cord, and a bowl of poison, informing her that she might 
choose by which of these to end her life, and save the dis- 
honor of a more public execution. Eurydice uttering im- 
precations upon the head of her murderer, chose the cord, 
and strangled herself. A hundred of the principal nobility 
were also executed by command of Olympias. Among these 
was Nicanor, the brother of Cassander. 

DEATH OP OLYMPIAS, B. C. 317. 

This monster did not long escape the penalty of her 
crimes. Being unable to sustain her authority in Pella, 
she returned to Pydna in Epirus, taking with her Eoxana, 
the infant king, and Thessalonica, her own daughter, with 
j some of her Epirote relations, among others Diedemia, 
a sister of Pyrrhus the hero. The people of Epirus seemed 
Qot to value her presence very highly, although she was a 



82 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

native and a relative of their former king; they may have 
seen or experienced something of her unloveable temper dur- 
ing her former residence among them. They declared for 
Cassander, who sent an army against Pydna, and reduced 
the princess to g:reat distress by besieging the city. Olym- 
pias applied to Polysphercon for relief, and that general, 
who was in Greece, prepared to march to her assistance ; but 
Cassander was able with one division of his army to con- 
tinue the siege, while another marched against Polysphercon, 
and prevented him from accomplishing anything. The offi- 
cers of Cassander bribed those of the enemy and frustrated 
all his purposes. Olympias being entirely unrelieved, was 
obliged to surrender at discretion. 

Alcidfeus was then king of Epirus, and was probably a 
brother of Olympias. He undertook to aid the princess at 
Pydna, but his officers and army being averse to the war, 
refused to" execute his commands, banished him into exile, 
and slew nearly all his family. His infant son, Pyrrhus, by 
the faithfuness of servants, was secreted and safely sent 
out of the kingdom. 

Cassander was desirous to destroy Olympias in a manner 
that would give the least offense, and save himself from 
censure. At his instigation the friends of those whom 
Olympias had caused to be put to death, accused her before 
the tribune, and obtained a decree of death against her. 
This court was held in Macedon, and the criminal was con- 
demned unheard and undefended. Whatever may have 
been her demerits, there was no equity nor propriety in 
such a proceeding. Cassander, under color of tender regard 
and a desire to save her life, sent a messenger, who proposed 
secretly to conduct her by the water to Athens, from whence 
she might safely retire to foreign lands, and spend the 
remnant of her days in peace ; but his intention was to 
cause her to perish by sea, and charge the event to the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 33 

elements, and thus save his own reputation. Olympias 
aware of his intent, determined to disappoint him. She 
replied to his messenger that she was the daughter, widow, 
mother and sister of kings and conquerors ; that she would 
not flee like a vagabond and a slave, but would come to Mace- 
don, and plead her own cause before the assembly of the 
people. Nothing could be more unfavorable to the ambi- 
tious policy of Cassander than the presence of Olympias in 
Macedon, where the memory of Alexander might rouse the 
sympathies and the enthusiasm of the people for his mother. 
He therefore sent two hundred soldiers with orders to des- 
troy her. So noble and dignified did she appear, while 
energy and majesty flashed from her eyes, that the sol- 
diers quailed before her, and had not the heart to execute 
their orders, and returned. Cassander then sent a company 
of the relatives of the noble men who had been put to death 
by her orders in the affair of Aridneus. These with pleasure 
obeyed Cassander, and put to death this distinguished prin- 
cess, whose crimes and varied fortunes form so important a 
part of the history of her time. 

DEATH OF ROXANA AND ALEXANDER, B. C. 311. 

Cassander was ambitious to be the sole king of Macedon, 
but while young Alexander lived he would be deemed a 
usurper ; he therefore sought to dispose of both mother and 
son. Although emboldened in crime by his success against 
Olympias, he thought it prudent to move with caution, and 
test how far his bloody deeds would be tolerated by the peo- 
ple. Under color of greater safety and better means of 
education for the young king, he caused Eoxana and Alex- 
ander to be removed to the castle of Amphipolis. They 
were no sooner there than they were stripped of all the 
signs of royalty, and treated more as menial prisoners than 
as princes of the realm. To remove the odium of the 



84 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

murder of Olympias, lie ordered a pompous funeral for Ari- 
dseus and Eurydice whom she had slain ; thus exciting 
their indignation against his victim, and testifying his sin- 
cere regard for the royal family. About this time he 
sought to strengthen his power by a connection with the 
royal family ; he married Thessalonica, the sister of Alex- 
ander the great. Time rolled along, and the good gener- 
als were employed in destroying each other. Young 
Alexander had arrived at the age of twelve or thirteen 
years. The Macedonians began to demand that the youth- 
ful king should appear in public, and take some part in the 
affairs of state. Cassander determined to rule alone ; no 
time was therefore to be lost. In the castle of Amphipolis, 
as in a prison, lay the royal widow and the youthful son of 
the great hero. Thither Cassander sent a confidential 
agent who caused them both to be privately murdered in 
the castle. Thus terminated the main brancli of the fami- 
ly of Alexander. For the prophet had declared that the 
kingdom was not for his posterity. The Macedonians had 
become so accustomed to crime that they seem to have been 
but little affected by these monstrous murders. 

DEATH OF BARSINA AND HERCULES, B. C. 310. 

Polysphercon, the rival of Cassander, although he could 
not gain the command of Macedon, still held some authority 
in Greece, where he defended himself against his more 
successful competitor. Barsina and her son Hercules, to 
avoid the intrigue of the factions at the capital, had retired 
to Ephcsus, and ultimately united their interests with those 
of Polysphercon. After the death of Alexander and his 
mother, Hercules was the only heir of the hero. Polys- 
phercon now exclaimed against the monstrous barbarity of 
Cassander, and put forward the claims of Hercules, calling 
upon the Macedonians to receive him as their king, hoping 



THE KINGDOM OF BRx\SS. 35 

thus to aid himself. Cassander crafty and intriguing, saw 
at once the advantage which this claim would give his 
rival. He therefore represented to Poljsphercon that in 
raising Hercules to the throne, he would o;ive himself a 
master ; hut if Hercules were once out of the w^ay, he 
might claim for himself tlie independent government of 
at least a portion of the kingdom. The old officer was 
completely deceived, and obeyed the counsel of Cassander. 
He treacherously murdered Barsina and her son, thus anni- 
hilating the strongest influence he had against his rival ; 
and at the same time removing the last obstacle that pre- 
vented Cassander from assuming the crown, which he soon 
did, and then conquered and slew Polysphercon. 

DEATH OF CLEOPATRA, B. C. 308. 

This princess was the sister of Alexander the great. 
It was at the- celebration of her nuptials with the king of 
Epirus, that her father, king Phillip, was slain. She had 
long been a widow ; fearing the displeasure of Cassander 
after the death of her mother, Olympias, she had retired 
to Sardis, where she was passing her widowhood in content- 
ment ; but as she was of the royal race, the aspirants for 
power sought her influence. Antigonus, the blood-thirsty, 
then ruled in tliat part of the world. He did not treat 
Cleopatra with kindness, and her home began to be uncom- 
fortable. She felt that she was not safe. Ptolemy was 
then at war with Antigonus. He invaded the states of 
Asia Minor. In this campaign he became personally 
acquainted with Cleopatra, and determined to remove her 
to a place of greater safety ; at the same time, thinking 
it would add to his importance to have her in liis party. 
A correspondence was opened between them. Cleopatra 
agreed to leave Sardis and meet him at a place appointed. 
She started ; the Governor, a creature in the interest of 



36 THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 

Antigonus, aware of what was transpiring, pursued and 
captured Cleopatra, brought her back to Sardis, and caused 
her to be poisoned. Under pretense of great indignation 
at the murder which he had ordered, and to conceal his own 
guilt, Antigonus repaired to Sardis and put to death all the 
female attendants of Cleopatra, charging them with the 
crime. " Justice is fallen in the street and truth can not 
enter. He that departeth from evil maketh himself a 
prey." 

DEATH OF THESSALONICA. B. C. 294. 

After the death of Cleopatra, none remained in whose 
veins ran the royal blood of Macedon except Thessalonica, 
the wife of Cassander, the sister of Alexander, and her 
sons. Cassander died of dropsy. Philip, his eldest son, 
survived his father but a few months, leaving two brothers, 
Antipater and Alexander. It will be seen that the elder 
of these two bore the name of his grandfather on his 
father's side, while the younger was named after his 
mother's brother. That fact may have some connection with 
the mother's partiality. Thessalonica desired Alexander, 
although the younger, to succeed to the crown. This pref- 
erence so enraged Antipater that he rushed upon her, and 
while she entreated him by the breasts that had nourished 
him, to spare the life of his mother, he plunged the dagger 
into her heart, and terminated her life, staining his own 
raiment with maternal blood. 

DEATH OF ANTIPATER AND ALEXANDER. B. C. 294. 

After the death of Thessalonica, the two brothers engaged 
in civil war for the crown. Antipater being the more suc- 
cessful, Alexander sought the aid of Pyrrhus, of Epirus, 
and of Demetrius. The latter was then in Greece at the 
head of an army. He responded to the call, hastened into I 

:.i 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 37 

Macedonia and defeated Antipater, who fled to Thrace, was 
thrown into prison and died in want. Alexander being 
delivered from the power of his brother, thanked Demetrius 
for his aid, and desired him to withdraw ; but Demetrius had 
other ends in view. He murdered Alexander and took the 
government for himself before Pjrrhus could arrive. 

They are all gone ! The last star of Macedon has de- 
scended into a night that knows no morn ; and the vision 
of the Prophet is fulfilled. 

" I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading 
himself like a green bay tree ; yet he passed away, and lo ! 
he was not ; yea, I sought him but he could not be found." 
** The transgressors shall be destroyed together ; the end 
of the wicked shall be cut off." 



FATE OF THE OFFICERS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT. 

" For his kingdom shall be plucked up for others, even besides those." 

Daniel, 11 4. 

Canopied in state, within the palace of Chaldea's great 
king, lay the mortal remains of him who claimed to be the 
son of the divine Jupiter Ammon, and aspired to fellowship 
with the gods. A mortal man, he assumed the airs of a 
god, and died as a brute. Around that lifeless form stood 
a group of generals who had aided their late royal master 
in extending his authority over the human race, from the 
West to the East. 

At Alexander's death, his Empire embraced the civilized 
and classic lands of Europe — the lofty temples and seats of 
early science, of Egypt, the cradle of commerce and manu- 
factures, beneath the brow of Mount Lebanon in Phoenicia 
and Palestine — the variegated lands of Asia Minor — the 
rich agricultural plains of the once luxurious Assyria, and 
the wealthy regions of the far East. An indomitable 



38 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

courao-e and unbounded ambition bad enabled the hero of 

o 

Macedon to fulfil the words of the Prophet, " and bear rule 
over all the earth.'^ But his kingdom, reared by carnage, 
was not to remain in his family. By carnage, it was to be 
given to others, who, by murders, strifes and leopard-like 
treachery, were to divide it into various fragments and ulti- 
mately yield it to *' the fourth beast, dreadful and terrible 
and strong exceedingly." 

At first these officers were affected with sincere grief for 
the loss of him who had led them to victory and glory. 
Soon however tender aff'ections, usually of transient dura- 
tion when the object is removed, gave place to thoughts and 
schemes for their own aggrandizement. Of the generals 
that surounded Alexander, the following were the most con- 
spicuous : Perdiccas, Eumenes, Neoptolemus, Leomadon, 
Alcetis, Pithon, Aridseus, Antipater, Cassander, Antigonus, 
Demetrius, Cartegus, Polysphercon, Alexander, Lysima- 
chus, Seleucus, Philotas, Ptolemy, Nicator and Ophalles. 

Eumenes was not a Macedonian, but a native of Thrace. 
Though a foreigner, he exhibited the most firm attachment 
to the hero, and after his death, in all the subsequent 
strifes, cast his lot and his influence on the side of the royal 
family. Por this commendable fidelity, he incurred the 
hatred of his fellow officers and as we shall see, ultimately 
lost his life : the too frequent fate of those who, in any good 
cause, by their skill and industry, reprove the indolent and 
unworthy. Of the others, except Ptolemy, it may be said 
they were unwilling to submit to the royal family, yet 
dared not to trust either of themselves with supreme com- 
mand, where neither had the right of preference. Prom 
the force of circumstances it was determined that the im- 
becile brother and the infant child of the Conqueror should 
wear the empty title of Kings, until ambition should find it 
safe to remove them, which was ultimately done. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 39 

The first seven of the generals named above were for a 
; time associated in a faction by themselves. Against this 
, group the others, for some unknown cause, held a grudge. 
I The field of their operations was Syria and Asia Minor. 
• Perdiccas had been appointed Eegent, with the care of the 
Kings. He attempted to establish the amiable and faith- 
ful Eumenes as governor of Capadocia and some other 
northern provinces. 

' -^ DEATH OF CARTEGUS, B. C. 321. 

Some of the other generals, envious of their power, 

) declared war against them. At the head of this movement 

! was An ti pater of Macedon ; who with Antigonus and Car- 

\ tegus marched against them with an army. Crossing 

Europe into Asia, they met and contended with Eumenes ; 

who, with inferior force, possessed far superior skill, and 

I often repulsed his invaders, frequently sparing the life 

' and property of his enemies, when he could have destroyed 

i them. His noble and generous heart desired to do them 

no more harm than was necessary for his own defense — a 

generosity illy repaid by his antagonists. After a time the 

opposing forces met on the plains of Cilicia, and in the 

battle Cartegus fell wounded and soon expired. Eumenes, 

although contending against the enemy, was personally a 

warm friend of Cartegus — a friendship not repaid by the 

latter. Hearing that Cartegus was mortally wounded, he 

hastened to his victim — embraced his foe in his arms and 

wept at his fall. Thus, two years after the death of Alex 

ander, perished the first of his officers. 

DEATH OF NEOPTOLEMUS, B. C. 321. 

This officer was at first of the faction of Perdiccas, and 
had been appointed governor of Armenia. He was sent 
with an army to assist Eumenes. Antigonus and Cartegus 



40 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

had endeavored to persuade Alcetis, Neoptolemus and 
Eumenes to desert the cause of Perdiccas and the Kings, 
and join the other aspirants in the struggle for independ- 
ence. Alcetis, although a brother of Perdiccas, agreed to 
remain neutral. Neoptolemus forsook his friends and 
joined the invading enemy — 'but Eumenes remained faithful 
to his charge. Eumenes and Neoptolemus were personal 
and bitter enemies. It is probable that this fact had some- 
thing to do with the desertion of the latter. In the battle, 
when Eumenes found that his former companion in arms 
but late rival was dead, and would no longer excite his 
fears, he left his prostrate body and rushed again into the 
battle, where he met and had a personal encounter witli 
Neoptolemus which resulted thus : ** Neoptolemus and 
Eumenes, who personally hated each other, having met in 
the battle, and their horses charging with a violent shock, 
they seized each other, and, their horses springing from 
under them, they both fell on the earth, where they strug- 
gled like two implacable wrestlers and fought for a consid- 
erable time with the utmost fury and rage, till at last 
Neoptolemus received a mortal wound and immediately 
expired/' — {Rollin). Some writers say that the death of 
Craterus occurred in the same battle, subsequent to that of 
Neoptolemus. 

DEATH OF PERDICCAS, B. C. 221. 

While these events were transpiring in Cilicia, Perdiccas 
was marching through Palestine into Egypt to invade 
Ptolemy, who had been appointed governor. Although 
the fact is no where recorded, it is presumed that Ptolemy 
was confederate with the others in the war against the party 
of Perdiccas ; no other cause appearing for this invasion of 
Egypt. Ptolemy entrenched himself in Memphis, the then 
capital, on the west of the Nile ; and contented himself 
by acting only on the defensive. Perdiccas pucamped on 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 41 

the east of the river, under the brow of the Mocattam 
Hills, near the spot where now stands Grand Cairo, "the 
Triumphant." The invading general lost two thousand 
of his men in a vain and rash attempt to ford the deep 
rolling river. The army of Perdiccas was composed chiefly 
of Macedonians and had under its protection the two Kings. 
The soldiers were exasperated at the sacrifice of their com- 
rades, and the rashness of Perdiccas. After this wanton 
waste of life, Pithon, who was one of his subordinate officers, 
with ten others entered the tent of the commander and 
slew him. This occurred but a few days after the victory 
of Eumenes, in which perished the two generals whose 
death we have just recorded, but the knowledge of that 
event did not reach Egypt until two days after the death 
of Perdiccas. 

The next day Ptolemy, crossing the river, entered the camp 
of the invaders and in a speech so effectually justified him- 
self that the whole army, not having heard of the good 
success of their comrades under Eumenes, changed sides, 
'oined the standard of Ptolemy, and offered him the regency 
)f the Kings. This he declined, and that charge was com- 
nitted to Antipater of Macedon. 

ALCETIS, 

vas slain in battle with Antigonus, B. C. 319. 

DEATH OF LEOMADON, B. C. 319. 

This officer had served under Perdiccas and by him had 
»een appointed governor of Phoenicia, and continued in 
«ower nearly two years after the death of his principal — 
•ut Ptolemy claimed that Phoenicia was given to him as a 
ependency of Egypt. He therefore invaded that country, 
nd sent Nicanor, one of his officers, against Leomadon. 
'he hostile forces met — Leomadon was captured and slain 
|y Nicanor, and his province subjected for a time to the 
Dntrol of Ptolemy. 
4 



42 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

DEATH OP ANTIPATEE, B. C. 319. 

This was one of the oldest of Alexander s generals and 
before that monardi's death had been sent back to take 
care of Macedon, over which he remained governor to the 
end of his life. Craterus previous to his death, of which 
an account is given above, had been associated with him in 
the government of Macedon, Greece, and Epirus ; but after 
that officer's death, Antipater governed alone. Greece had 
submitted to Alexander, but after the death of that hero 
the Greeks declared war against the authority of Macedon. 
After many and partially successful attempts to subdue 
them, old Antipater died a natural death, having appointed 
Polysphercon his successor, with whom Cassander, the son 
of Antipater, contended for the government. 

DEATH OF PHILOTAS, B. C. 318. 

Of this officer we know but little, except that he was of 
the faction of Perdiccas, by whom he was appointed gov- 
ernor of Media, when Neoptolemus was called away to aid 
Eumenes. Pithon after he had assassinated Perdiccas 
repaired to the East, where he raised an army, invaded 
Media and slew the rulers, and for a time took upon him- 
self the government of that country — soon to share the 
fate of his own victim. 

DEATH OF NICANOR, B. C. 317. 

This officer, who at one time served under Ptolemy, 
and, in invading Phoenicia, slew Leomadon, was the brother 
of Cassander. He was in Macedon when Olympias mur- 
dered Arid^us and Eurydice. Nicanor was one of the one 
hundred nobles whom Olympias caused to be publicly execu- 
ted on that occasion. 

DEATH OF ALEXANDER, B. C. 317. 

This young officer was the son of Polysphercon. He 
contended heroically for his father against Cassander. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 43 

Being stationed with his army at Sicyon, where his presence 
was deemed irksome, the citizens assassinated him. 

THE FATE OF APJD^US 

is unknown. He was the officer who had charge of the 
funeral of Alexander, and was one of those who assisted 
Pithon in the assassination of Perdiccas. 

DEATH OF EUMENES, B. C. 315. 

After his victory over Craterus and Neoptolemus, 
Eumenes was continually harrassed by his allied enemies 
and rivals, who felt that his fidelity to the claims of the 
Kings, stood in the way of their own autliority. He expe- 
rienced great vicissitudes of fortune, was blockaded for a 
time in the Castle of Nora, effected his escape — sought and 
was denied aid from Python of Media, and Seleucus, a Baby- 
lonian, and was at last betrayed by his under officers into 
the hands of his enemy, Antigonus, who ignominiously caused 
his noble and worthy prisoner to be poisoned. They were 
personally warm friends and the life of Antigonus, even in 
war upon him, had been saved by Eumenes ; but what is 
friendship or gratitude, when virtue stands in the way of 
corrupt and vaulting ambition ? 

DEATH OF PYTHON, B. C. 315. 

This usurper of the government of Media had joined 
Antigonus in war against the virtuous Eumenes, but after 
the death of that nobleman, Antigonus thought to wipe out 
the debt of gratitude by the death of several officers who 
had contributed to his success. Antigonus therefore put to 
death Python and several others. 

DEATH OF OPHELLUS, B. C. 307. 

This officer returning from Babylon with Ptolemy, was 
appointed governor of Lybia. After a few years he rebelled 



44 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

against Eygpt, and was persuaded by Agathocles, King of 
Sicily, to engage in a war against the Carthaginians, where 
he was treacherously assassinated by the very man who 
induced him to undertake the expedition. 

DEATH OF ANTIGONUS, B. C. 301. 

After the death of Eumenes, Antigonus, with his son, 
claimed to govern all Syria. The extent of his territory 
and the ambition which he manifested, aroused the jealousy 
of the other great masters. Lysimachus, Cassander and 
Ptolemy, with their adherents, formed an alliance and made 
war upon Syria. This conflict, after repeated engagements 
by land and by sea, was finally terminated in the decisive 
battle of Ipsus in Phrygia, in which Antigonus was slain. 
His son Demetrius after the defeat fled into Greece. 

DEATH OF POLYSPHEECON, B. C. 299. 

This officer served in Macedon under Antipater, who, 
fearing to trust his son Cassander with power, appointed 
Polysphercon his successor, which resulted in civil war 
between the rivals. After having aided in destroying the 
the royal family, by putting to death Hercules and his 
mother Barsina, he was slain in battle by Cassander. 

DEATH OF CASSANDER, B. 0. 297. 

This son of Antipater married Thessalonica, the sister 
of Alexander the Great, whose untimely fate, with that of 
her children, is given in the account of Alexander and his 
family. Cassander died of dropsy. 

DEATH OF DEMETRIUS, B. C. 286. 

This son of Antigonus, after the death of his father, 
experienced many vicissitudes of fortune ; was for a short 
time king of Athens ; at another time, of Macedon ; murdered 
the family of Cassander ; married his daughter to Seleucus ; 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS, 46 

quarrelled with his son-in-law, with whom he engaged in 
war, was captured dnd thrown into prison, in Laodicea, 
Syria, where he died of want. 

PTOLEMY SOTER, 

died in Egypt of a good old age, B. C. 283. 

LYSIMACHUS OF THRA.CE, 

was slain in hattle with Seleueus, B. C. 281. He had 
espoused the cause of Agathocles and Ceraunus. 

SELEUCUS NICANOR OF SYRIA, 

was the last survivor of Alexander's officers. He was 
slain seven months after the death of Lysimachus, B. C. 280, 
by the ungrateful Ceraunus. Surely, " he that taketh the 
sword shall perish by the sword." 



EGYPT UNDER THE PTOLEMYS. 

THE LAGID^. 

In the service of Philip, king of Macedon, was a distin- 
guished personage by the name of Ptolemy Lagus. From 
him the Ptolemys of Egypt descended. For this reason, 
they were called the Lagidge, and sometimes the Ptolemys. 
In the army of Alexander the Great, there were about 
twenty generals of greater or less note; by whom, with 
bloody strifes, his vast empire was divided. Ultimately, 
after many of the generals had perished, frequently by 
violence, four of them became kings in four different coun- 
tries. Egypt and some bordering countries fell to the lot 
of Ptolemy Soter, son of Lagus. At the time of Alexan- 
der's death, no partitions of his kingdom had ever bee^^ 
settled. For aught that we can discover, one had as good 
a claim to dominion as another. Most of the aspirants 
attempted to secure their elevations by the most consum- 
mate treachery and despicable assassinations. Several of 



46 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

tliem were participators in the murder of the heirs and 
relations of Alexander. Of these bloody deeds, some 
account has been given in a previous chapter. 

Ptolemy took no part in the destruction of the royal 
family. In no instance do we find him wantonly destroy- 
ing human life. This, though but negative merit, is great 
praise when we consider the age in which he lived, and the 
fact that other tlirones around him were swimming in inno- 
cent blood. Ptolemy Soter was born in tlie year 867, B. C. 

He was of Greek origin, spoke the Greek language, and 
was something of a scholar in the sciences of those days. 
The reign of the Ptolemys in Egypt was the era of the 
introduction of literature into the land of Ham. Soter 
Lad been companion in war with the great Macedonian 
conqueror until the death of that monarch in Babylon. 

Immediately after that event, he repaired to Egypt, 
where he administered the laws until his death; not at 
first as king, but while the heirs of Alexander lived, claim- 
ing only the powers of governor under the authority of 
the kings. After years of administration, and after most 
of Alexander's generals had put on the crown, all the 
heirs of Alexander having been put to death, Ptolemy also 
assumed the title of king of Egypt. The most important 
wars in which Ptolemy Soter was engaged, occurred before 
he assumed the title of king, and while the other generals 
were constantly employed in quarrels. 

Perdiccas, a general of Alexander, had the care of the 
young king, and was in Syria with a great army. He with 
a large force, chiefly Macedonians, entered Egypt from Asia 
by Pelusium, the point at which Egypt has been so many 
times invaded. Memphis was, as yet, the capital. There 
Ptolemy was shut in with his friends. Perdiccas encamped 
on the opposite shore, near where Cairo now stands, between 
the two arms of the Nile. No ferry, with latteen sails, 



THE KINGDOM Oi' BRASS. 47 

was at hand, such as now awaits the traveler to bear him 
across the turbid stream. The rivers of Macedon and Asia 
Minor are often shallow and ford able. Alexander had often 
waded directly through them, and even fought battles when 
part of his men were standing in the water. Perdiccas had 
seen and participated in these events. He was an able 
general — but great men are not always wise ; he did not 
understand, that what was perfectly safe in one country, or 
under certain circumstances, would be madness in a differ- 
ent condition. He attempted to ford the Nile, above the 
Ehoda, with his army. The obedient soldiers descend into 
the water, pressed forward by the indiscreet commander. 
They attempt to swim. The surges of the water over- 
whelm them, and they are engulphed beneath its waves. 
The crocodile sports in the midst of them. Some of the 
soldiers are drowned, some are devoured by the monsters, 
and a few retire to the eastern shore. Two thousand per- 
ish, and Ptolemy is delivered from present fear. Treason 
now rears its head in the camp of the invader. The Mace- 
donians are horror stricken at the waste of life, and enraged 
at the author of it. Pithon, a general, and ten others, enter 
the tent of Perdiccas and murder him. The next day, 
Ptolemy quits Memphis and enters the camp of the invader. 
He addresses them — they hear him with pleasure, and de- 
clare for Ptolemy. Thus ends another invasion of Egypt. 
This must have been in the year, B. C, 321, and two years 
after the death of Alexander. 

In 315, Antigonus had gained the regency of Asia, and 
was exercising despotic power over the provinces — displacing 
governors, and committing many acts of cruelty. Seleu- 
cus, one of Alexander's younger generals, was at this time 
governor of Babylon. Being hunted from his office and 
fearing for his life, he repaired to Egypt and incited Ptol- 
emy to war with Antigonus. Antipater, of Macedon, and 



48 THE KINGDOM OF BKASS. 

.Lysimaclius, of Thrace, also engaged in tlie war. These 
were then the four kingdoms into which the Alexandrian 
empire was divided. By looking at the map, it will be seen 
that the Syrian kingdom was much larger than all the 
others. It involved all of Persia, and all of the modern 
Turkish empire except the seacoasts of Palestine and Phoe- 
nicia, which were attached to Egypt. It was this magnitude 
of empire and the ambitious spirit manifested by Antigonus, 
that aroused the jealousy of his co-gencrals. Their object, 
therefore, was to diminish the power of their neighbor. 
Ptolemy had a greater interest in the war than his confed- 
erates. Egypt was a rich valley, and abounded in fruit 
and grain. It also bordered upon the sea, and had great 
facilities for commerce, one of the indispensable elements 
of natural wealth : but Egypt had no forests ; she could not 
furnish the material for ship-building. To her prosperity 
and the development of her resources, Palestine, Phoenicia 
and Cyprus Avere indispensable. They were equally so to 
Syria and the far East. The mercantile cities at the east- 
ern end of the Mediterranean sea — Tyre, Sidon, Joppa and 
Gaza, together with the isle of Cyprus — became therefore a 
frequent bone of contention between the great nations east 
and north of them. Hence, the five sieges and the ulti- 
mate desolation of Tyre. 

Antigonus, expecting an attack from the other princes, 
marched into Palestine and conquered most of Ptolemy's 
possessions there. But Tyre resisted, and was besieged 
fifteen months ; after which the city surrendered to Anti- 
gonus, nineteen years after its destruction by Alexander. 
Antigonus now removing the seat of war to Asia Minor, 
Ptolemy sails and attacks Cyprus, in 313. The island 
submitted to him. Ptolemy then proceeded to Syria and 
Cilicia — gained some provinces, took great spoils and pris- 
oners, and sent them into Egypt. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. . 49 

THK TRAGEDY OF PAPHOS. 

The island of Cyprus anciently contained nine cities. 
Over each of those cities, a king presided. There were 
thus nine kingdoms on an island, not larger than so many 
counties in Ohio. It must not be understood that these 
kingdoms were independent nations. In times previous 
to the Christian era, there were multitudes of kings and 
kingdoms, all of which were tributary and subject to some 
foreign and general empire ; the relations of these i>etty 
kingdoms to some superior authority, was much like that 
of the States of the Union to the general government at 
AVashino'ton. Such w^as the condition of the nine kino^doms 
of Cyprus. Seldom independent, often not united among 
themselves, but tributary sometimes to Phoenicia, to Baby- 
lon or to Persia, and sometimes forming part of the empire 
of Maccdon, of Syria or of Egypt. The island often changed 
mastei-s, after the death of Alexander the Great. In 312 
B. C, Ptolemy, governor of Egypt, and Antigonus, gov- 
ernor of Syria, were at war. Cyprus had been given to 
Ptolemy, in the partition of the Macedonian empire. Anti- 
gonus had taken possession of it ; but Ptolemy had regained 
it, and required of all the rulers an oath of allegiance to 
him. Nicocles, king of Paphos, with the others, had 
acknowledged his dependence upon Ptolemy. Some time 
after, lie fancied he would be better suited with Antigonus 
for a master, and entered secretly into an allegiance with 
that governor. The fact came to the knowledge of Ptol- 
emy. The island was at his control, and the traitor was 
at his mercy. Ptolemy had been a mild governor ; a pro- 
tector, not a destroyer of his people. It was on this account 
that he had received the name of Soter (saviour). I do not 
recollect another example in which he took the life of an 
enemy, except in the regular course of war. But if Nico- 
cles be spared, his other rulers might be tempt'^d to follow 



50 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

his example. Nicocles was clearly guilty of treason, and 
had forfeited his life. There are times when a sickly sym- 
pathy for a wrong-doer is not tenderness — is not mercy; 
there are occasions when rigor on the part of government 
is the highest mercy and kindness to society at large, when 
forbearance toward the wrong-doer, though congenial to the 
tender feelings of humanity, would be cruel injustice to 
multitudes, and, instead of diminishing, would add to the 
sufferings of the human family. 

To spare Nicocles would have been offering a reward for 
treason, and would have filled the empire with scenes of 
horror and bloodshed. Ptolemy saw all this. Filled with 
kindness and regard for all his subjects, he could do no less 
than order his rulers in Cyprus to destroy Nicocles. This, 
to them, was a painful duty. They were fellow officers 
with the victim — they ruled on the same island — they were 
his neighbors — yet they dared not disobey the great gov- 
ernor of Egypt. Knowing that Nicocles must die, they go 
to him, explain his condition and their embarrassment, and 
request him to destroy himself; a very modest request, 
indeed. But Nicocles had none tg help him, no means of 
escape. A wide sea rolled between him and Antigonus. 
Oh ! what thoughts ! what agitation filled his mind ! he 
might now have understood what it was to find no place for 
repentance, though he sought it carefully and with tears. 
He grants the request of Ptolemy's officers ; retires to his 
chamber, and by his own hand ends his life. But did the 
evil stop here? Domestic relations in royal families are 
usually held together by public ties. The roots of affection 
that in humble life twine around the heart and by sweet 
restraining tenderness bind the members of a family into 
one bond of life, ^3eldom have a vigorous growth in king's 
courts ; the glitter of royalty, the schemes of ambition, and 
the interests of faction so often disturb the soil of affection 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. Bit 

that its tendrils die, or at least do not mature the sweets 
of perpetual love. To this there are some exceptions. 
In the midst of the arid sands of royal and princely hearts, 
where no rains of pure love descend, and no genial plants 
of domestic felicity thrive, there are occasional oases. Con- 
nubial, parental and filial affection do sometimes, in isolated 
spots appear on tlic page of history even in royal courts. 
An example of this is found in the unfortunate family of 
Bactriana, the brother of Xerxes the great. Another is 
found in the palace of Paphos. Nicocles had a family — 
wife, children and brothers. Ptolemy had with his usual 
generosity ordered that the utmost care and respect should 
be paid to the members of the royal household. How nobly 
this exhibited the tender and humane spirit of the ruler 
of Egypt. How it contrasted with the eastern ruler, his 
predecessor, who both in Egypt and in Persia so often in 
the most cruel manner put to death the w^omen and children 
for the real or imaginary offense of the husbands or the 
fathers. But would the affectionate wife of Nicocles forget 
her lord in the midst of the courtiers of Egypt? Ah, no ! 
the fond heart suddenly and violently separated from tlie 
object of tender regard, found no solace in the attentions 
of a stranger. The Queen could not survive the death of 
her lord. Calling the entire royal family around her she 
exhorted them not to survive the king, with a dagger 
slew her children, then plunged the bloody weapon into her 
own bosom. The princes set fire to the royal palaces and 
sought and found death in the flames. While we, at this 
distance of time, look back and admire the constancy and 
aft'ection of the royal family of Paphos, when all the greater 
courts around them were filled with strife and turmoil, we 
cfltti not but regret that the religion of Jesus of Nazareth 
had not dawned upon that island and upon the mind and 
heart of those disconsolate princes, giving them hope that 



62 THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 

though their sorrows were great, they need but endure them 
for a time and then enter into an eternal rest. In the time 
of affliction how needful is the blessed Gospel of peace. 

SIEGE OF SALAMI S. 

312 B. C, Ptolemy had taken the island of Cyprus 
from Antigonus, governor of Syria, at that time the most 
powerful of all Alexander's successors. In 305, Antigo- 
nus directed his son, Demetrius, who was then at Athens, 
in Greece, to besiege and try to recover possession of 
Cyprus. The hostile fleet was soon seen hovering around 
the island, and threatening its ports and harbors. At length 
Deiiletrius landed with a large army and encamped near 
Salamis, one of the principal cities of Cyprus. Menelaus, 
a brother of Ptolemy, was there with an army to defend 
the place. After some delay, the forces of Salamis were 
marched out to meet the invader. Demetrius engaged 
them, and a severe battle was fought, but Menelaus was 
defeated. One thousand of his men were slain, and three 
thousand more taken prisoners. He retreated into the 
city, and strengthened the walls, gates, and other fortifi- 
cations of Salamis, presuming that Demetrius would take 
advantage of his late victory and attempt to besiege the 
city. A courier was dispatched over the sea to inform 
Ptolemy that the island was besieged and the first battle 
lost — that Salamis and all Cyprus were in danger, and 
that help was needed. The call w^as heard and the aid 
dispatched. But time is requisite for the fleet to leave 
Egypt and arrive at the seat of war. Demetrius after 
carefully examining the defenses of Salamis, and the num* 
ber of his foes, was not disposed to attack the city at first, 
but sent to his father, in Syria, from whom he received s> 
vast amount of iron, and timber, and artists. He then 
commenced building prodigious battering rams, heliopoles, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 53 

and other besieging apparatus. All being prepared, he 
commenced his attack upon the walls of the city. They 
tremble, they break, they fall before the engines of the 
invaders — a great breach is made, the engines rest for the 
night, the weary officers retire to their tents to seek repose, 
intending in the morning to renew the attack, and if pos- 
sible, force their way through the gaps already made, into 
the city. So they sleep quietly. Hark ! a sound is heard. 
Their slumbers are broken. They awake. A bright light 
is shining upon the tents, the banners, the camp. Their 
great engines are all on fire. The besieged within the 
city, fearful of the fate of to-morrow, had collected dry 
material, and with dexterity had hurled them from their 
walls against the engines below ; then with long poles and 
torches of pitch had set them on fire. The camp of Deme- 
trius was roused. With much effort they extinguished the 
fire, but not until the engines were materially damaged. 

Grey dawn appears, and the besiegers intend to-day, 
sword in hand, to force a passage into Salamis. How little 
do mortals know what a day or an hour may bring forth. 
The morning fog slowy rises, the bright sun throws his 
glorious rays across the water, and reveals, to the surprise 
of the beholder, the fleet of Ptolemy, consisting of one hun- 
dred and fifty vessels, lying off the harbor. 

Oh how joyous within the city was the light of that 
morning. Say, joy ! thou effervesence of faith ; hope ! thou 
gilded bird, when wilt thou fold thy pinions that mortals 
may overtake thee ? Not till the dark valley of the shadow 
of death be passed — then shalt thou rest thy wing, and 
perch upon the anchor within the veil. Then and only 
then shall hope become fruition. Eeader, did you ever 
observe with a joyous heart the bright morning sun ? 
No cloud was there. You rejoiced in the prospect of a day 
beautiful to the close. Bat, alas ! the sky gathers haziness, 



i54 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

clouds deepen darker, thunder rolls, and ere the setting, 
a disturbed heaven pours forth its floods ; night sets in 
gloomy as the shades of Erebus. Such have I often seen, 
and such in the path of life have I experieucd. Such was 
the day to Salaniis ; brightly opening, we shall see how it 
closed. 

Undismayed by the fire of the night or the fleet of the 
morning, Demetrius prepared for an attack upon the newly 
arrived enemy. Ptolemy communicated with Menelaus and 
desired him to annoy the fleet of the enemy in the rear 
while he assailed them from the open sea. But Demetrius 
left a few vessels at the mouth of the harbor, which com- 
pletely shut up what ships Menelaus had, so that they 
could not come into action. With the rest, though far 
inferior in number, he sailed out and attacked those of 
Ptolemy ; he had also arranged his land forces along the 
shore to protect any of his men that might have occasion to 
swim to the land. 

But Menelaus being already besieged in the cit}'', could 
not aflbrd the same protection to Ptolemy's men. By the 
fury of the attack, the vessels of Demetrius were able to 
break through the center of Ptolemy's line of battle, and 
after a severe struggle victory remained upon the side of - 
Demetrius. All Ptolemy's household, women, children and 
rich furniture were taken by the conqueror, but having 
been himself treated with great kindness on a former occa- 
sion by Ptolemy, who had captured his family at the siege 
of Gaza, he restored all the family and treasures of Ptolemy, 
who immediately abandoned Cyprus to its fate, and sailed 
for Egypt. Menelaus, thus abandoned, immediately sur- 
rendered Salamis with all its inhabitants to Demetrius. 

The number of captives taken by these successive victo- 
ries was about seventeen thousand soldiers, besides the 
sailors. What became of the prisoners of war? They 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 65 

were all engrafted into the army of the conqueror. Thus 
it mattered little to the soldiers which conquered. They 
fought as readily on one side as the other. This indiffer- 
ence in the masses will in part explain the sudden reverses 
of fortune in the wars of ancient times. iVfter the victo- 
ries of Salamis, Antigonus and his son Demetrius assumed 
the title of kings, a precedent which was soon followed by 
the other great generals of Alexander. 

The year after the siege of Salamis, Antigonus conceived 
the plan of entirely subverting Ptolemy, and annexing 
Egypt to his already vast empire. Accordingly he ad- 
vanced through Palestine with an army of one hundred 
thousand men, to Gaza. 

Demetrius was on the coast with a fleet of vessels of war. 
A few years before Gaza had been taken from them and 
Demetrius had suffered a great defeat ; but Ptolemy had 
again lost these possessions. While the army of Antigo- 
nus crossed the desert and approached Pelusium, De- 
metrius sailed around the coast to the mouth of the Nile. 
But here he was unable to effect a landing. The storms 
shattered many of his vessels ; while Ptolemy had taken 
great care to fortify all places of landing. At the same 
time sickness, desertions, and death, were rapidly dimin- 
ishing the number of Antigonus' men. The entire expe- 
dition was a failure and Antigonus and Demetrius 
returned to Assyria disheartened. Ptolemy had but little 
trouble with his neighbors after the retreat of the Assyrians. 
The remainder of his days were devoted to science and the 
improvement of his country. But the ambition of Antigo- 
nus and Demetrius now effectually aroused the three great 
princes of the world against him. Cassander of Macedon, 
Lysimachus of Thrace, and Ptolemy of Egypt determined 
upon his overthrow. Ptolemy seems to have had less to do 
in these wars than the others. He however regained his 



56 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

possessions in Phoenicia. Seleucus, governor of Babylon, now 
began to attract more attention. He was with the others 
instrumental in the entire ruin of Antigonus, who was slain 
in the battle of Ipsus and his dominions chiefly given to 
the SeleucidtB. The history of their affairs belongs however 
to Syria rather than to Egypt. 

B. C. 285, Ptolemy Soter resigned the crown to his son 
Philadelphus, and two years after died, in 283, being eighty- 
four years of age ; having governed Egypt nineteen years 
as Governor and twenty as King. 



CORONATION OF PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS. 

Ptolemy Soter was now becoming an old man. While in 
the army of Alexander, in the East, he had a female favor- 
ite who accompanied him in those expeditions. It was the 
female who, at the feast of Alexander in Persepolis, pro- 
posed to illuminate the festival by burning the palace. 
After the death of the Macedonian, when Ptolemy was 
established as governor of Egypt, he seems to have aban- 
doned her, according to the usual custom of princes, and 
entered into legitimate matrimony. He married Eurydice, 
a Macedonian lady, the daughter of old Antipater, and sister 
of Cassander, afterward king of Macedon. The bride came 
into Egypt in great splendor, attended by a lady of honor, 
named Berenice, a widow, who had a son, Magus. This son 
was made governor of Lybia, where he afterward plotted a 
rebellion. After a time, Ptolemy became equally or better 
pleased with Berenice, the attendant, than with Eurydice, 
his proper queen. He therefore married the widow. By 
both of these wives he had several children, whose fraternal 
quarrels fill a bloody page of history. 

By Eurydice, he had Ptolemy Ceraunus and Lysandra: 



THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 57 

these were the elder children. By Berenice, he had Phila- 
delphus and Arsinoe. Perceiving that he would not long 
be able to administer the affairs of his kingdom, and desir- 
ing to settle the heirship to the crown himself, he called a 
council to deliberate upon the succession. His prime min- 
ister was Demetrius Phalarius, who had once been king of 
Athens, but had been expelled, and had fled to Egypt, a 
refugee, where he had become an able, faithful, and much 
beloved officer. Demetrius recommended that the usual 
course should be preserved, of declaring the oldest son the 
heir to the throne. As an additional reason for this course, 
it was shown that this heir was, by his mother, descended 
from the royal family of Macedon ; while the children of 
Berenice, though noble, were not, on the mother's side, of 
kingly descent. This council, if followed, would have given 
the crown to Ptolemy Ceraunus. 

It is a fact, of almost daily occurrence, that a second wife, 
of less honorable connections, will exert a greater influence 
over a husband than the first, even though the husband 
is aware of the fact, and tries to guard against it. He 
often finds himself under an influence which he feels and 
condemns, and yet can not resist. Berenice had found 
means to supplant Eurydice, and to establish her son in 
Lybia. She now succeeded in overthrowing the council of 
the ministry, and obtaining a decree that Ptolemy Phila- 
delphus, her own son, should succeed Soter, to the exclusion 
of the children of Eurydice. Accordingly, B. C. 284, and 
two years before Soter's death, Philadelphus was crowned, 
and associated with his father in the government. 

This coronation was the most splendid pageant ever 
recorded on any page of history. It presents a view of 
the extensive complicated mythology of the polytheism of 
both Greeks and Egyptians. It also exhibits the abund- 
ance of wealth and luxury which had accumulated in 



58 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Egypt, under the wise and prudent administration of 
Soter. I will transcribe from KoUin an account of the 
ceremony, with occasional remarks of my own. 

The procession began with a troop of sileni ; some hab- 
ited in purple, others in robes of deep red. Their employ- 
ment was to keep off the crowd and clear a path. Next 
to the sileni came a band of satyrs, composed of twenty, in 
two ranks, each carrying a gilded lamp. A satyr is a 
fabulous being, with wings upon its head and feet. They 
were supposed to meet and dance by night among the ruins 
of deserted cities. The w^ord sometimes referred to a class 
of men, dressed in a style to imitate the fabulous satyr. 
They were dancers, jesters, fun-makers ; about what we 
would now call clowns. The lamps referred to their night 
revelries ; the wings were intended to represent the levity 
of dancing, but might, perhaps, more appropriately signify 
that their heads were empty, and their feet expeditious to 
run away from their creditors. In this instance, although 
not so intended, it very appropriately represented that all 
kingly parade and ostentation of dignity were but mere 
buffoonery and empty show. These were succeeded by vic- 
tories, with golden wings, carrying vases partly gilt and 
partly adorned with leaves of ivy, in which perfumes were 
burning. Their habits were embroidered with figures of 
animals, and every part of them glittered with gold. No 
writer has given us the signification of this group, if it had 
any. I will venture, therefore, an appropriate interpreta- 
tion, although I do not know that Philadelphus, if he were 
to arise from the dead and read my comments, would feel 
himself flattered by them. The victories signify the con- 
quest of kingly government over mankind — quite as often 
over the life, liberty, property, soul and body of their own 
subjects, as that of their foreign foes. " Their dress was 
adorned with figures of animals." I have often had 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. S^ 

occasion to remark, that most human governments are 
organized animals, sustaining themselves by animal force in 
a brutal manner. Most of them have been blood-shedding, 
flesh-eating beasts and birds. This very coronation was of 
a king over one of the heads of that kingdom, which, by 
the Spirit of the living God, had been revealed to Daniel 
as a great spotted leopard. 

These figures of animals, therefore, truly represent Egypt 
under the Ptolemies, whose general career was one of ani- 
mal gratification, both ferocious and voluptuous. The burn- 
ing of incense may justly represent the grateful pleasure 
with which the world ever applauds successful bad deeds; 
and the golden adornings bespeak the insatiable avarice of 
monarchs, who, by victory, rob their fellows to enrich them- 
selves. 

After these came a double altar, nine feet in hight, and 
carved with a luxuriant foliage of ivy, intermixed with 
ornaments of gold. It was beautified with a golden crown, 
composed of vine leaves, and adorned on all sides with cer- 
tain white fillets. 

After victory cometh the crov/n and the altar of incense, 
not to the righteous Euler of the universe, but to the suc- 
cessful tyrant, who, by the wreath of ivy, signifies his desire 
for immortal fame. 

A hundred and twenty youths advanced next, clothed in 
purple, each of them bearing a golden vase of incense, 
myrrh and saffron. They were followed by forty satyrs, 
wearing crowns of gold, which represented the leaves of 
ivy ; and in the right hand of each was another crown of 
the same metal, adorned with vine leaves ; their habits 
were adorned with a variety of colors. 

What could this signify ? May it not imply, that after 
victory cometh the crowning of the conqueror; then the 
youth who succeed him, imply the next generation; and 



60 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

then those satyrs, wearing and also carrying crowns, sig- 
nify that hereditary monarchs transmit the crowns of ener- 
getic predecessors to light, empty-headed, dancing satyrs 
and fools, for successors. If this was not the intended sig- 
nification when Philadelphus was crowned, it is about the 
sum of what history has verified. 

In the rear of these marched two sileni, arrayed in pur- 
ple mantles and white dresses : one wore a kind of hat, and 
carried a golden caduceus in his hand; the other had a 
trumpet. Between these two was a man, six feet in hight, 
masked and habited like a tragedian. He also carried a 
golden cornucopia, and was distinguished by the appellation 
of the year. The cornucopia signifies plenty, or the pro- 
ducts of the year ; but, in this connection, it may signify 
that the tragedian in disguise and the empty title of king, 
with no intrinsic merit, or the imitation of what one is not, 
brings abundauce to the ruler, who, instead of being the 
benefactor, is the robber of his people. 

This person preceded a very beautiful woman, as tall as 
himself, dressed in a magnificent manner, and glittering all 
over with gold. She held in one hand a crown, composed 
of the leaves of the peach tree, and in the other hand a 
branch of palm. She was called Penteteres. This, we 
are informed, referred to the feast of Bacchus, which was 
celebrated in the beginning of the fifth year ; a festival in 
which women, wine and debauchery abounded: a fit accom- 
paniment of royal courts, showing the debasing nature of 
intemperate authority. 

The next in the procession were the genii of the four 
seasons, wearing characteristic ornaments and supporting- 
two golden vases of odors, adorned with ivy leaves. In the 
midst of these was a square altar of gold. This is more 
rational, as it represented the work of the Creator in the 
seasons of the year, furnishing the means of subsistence, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 61 

without which kings could not luxuriate. But having 
obtained the good things which Providence had furnished, 
instead of gratitude and a discreet use we see folly again 
triumphant. A band of satyrs appeared, wearing golden 
crowns fashioned like the leaves of ivy, and arrayed in red 
habits. Some bore vessels filled with wine, others carried 
drinking cups. 

Immediately after these, (buffoons and wine-bibbers), came 
Philiscus, the poet and priest of Bacchus, attended by come- 
dians, musicians, dancers, and other persons of that class. 

Two tripods were carried next, as prizes for the victors in 
the athletic combats and exercises. One of these tripods, 
thirteen and a half feet in hight, was intended for the 
youths ; the other, which was eighteen feet high, was designed 
for the men. 

A car of an extraordinary size followed these. It had 
four wheels, was twenty -one feet in length, and twelve in 
breadth, and was drawn by one hundred and eighty men. 
In this car was a figure fifteen feet in hight, representing 
Bacchus, in the attitude of performing libations, with a large 
cup of gold. He was arrayed in a robe of brocade pur- 
ple which flowed down to his feet. Over this was a trans- 
parent vest of saffron color, and above that a large purple 
mantle embroidered with gold. Before him was a great 
vessel of gold, formed in the Lacedaemonian fashion, and con- 
taining fifteen measures, equal to one hundred and thirty- 
five gallons. This was accompanied with a golden tripod on 
which were placed a golden vase of odors, with two cups of 
the same metal, full of cinnamon and saffron. Bacchus was 
seated under the shade of ivy and vine leaves, intermixed 
with the foliage of fruit trees, and from these hung several 
crowns, fillets and thyrs with timbals, ribbons and a variety 
of satiric, comic and tragic masks. In the same car were 
the priests and priestesses of that deity, with the other 



62 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

ministers and interpreters of mysteries, dancers of all 
classes, and women bearing vases. 

This was a grand pantomine of Bacchanalian revelry, not 
unlike those which occur in our day, where may be seen 
wine, gay clothing, men and vile women. 

Next marched along the Bacchantes. These were the wives, 
sisters and daughters of Bacchus. Their hair was disheveled, 
their heads were crowned with serpentine yew, vine and ivy ; 
in their hands they grasped either knives or serpents. This 
is a just representation of the frantic and wretched condition 
of the female members of a Bacchanalian family, whose 
heads and hearts are stung with anguish, and whose hands 
grasped serpents or weapons of destruction. Next moved 
along a car twelve feet in breadth, drawn by sixty men. 
Here rode the the statue of Nysa, the nurse of Bacchus ; when 
sitting she was twelve feet high; she was clothed with a yellow 
dress embroidered with gold, over which was another short 
dress. By the aid of invisible machinery this statue arose 
apparently without aid, and poured milk into a golden cup, 
again seating itself. The head was covered with a golden 
crown wrought in the form of leaves of ivy, from which hung 
pendant clusters of grapes, composed of various gems. In 
the left hand was a thyrsus adorned with ribbons. The 
whole image was covered with a deep shade, formed by a 
blended foliage ; a gilded lamp hung at each corner of the 
car. 

What does Nysa mean ? She is the nurse of Bacchus ; 
she is the promoter of intemperance ; she is the embodiment 
of the liquor trade ; she rises without help and pours forth 
her poisonous fluid, and unceasingly pushes her infernal 
traffic. She is crowned with gold ; she acquires wealth by her 
occupation, although she blesses no one ; her car is drawn by 
a multitude of men. It was lighted by gilted lamps, for she 
nurses Bacchus chiefly in the night season. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. ($ 

Let us go a step farther back, from the liquor dealer to 
the liquor manufacturer, for we are now following up the 
stream. 

Next came a car thirtj-six feet long and twenty-four wide, 
drawn by three hundred men, bearing a wine press thirty- 
six by twenty-two and a half feet, which was full of grapes. 
Six satyrs expressed the juice from the grapes by dancing 
upon them to the sound of the flute, while they sung Bac- 
chanalian songs, corresponding with their employment. Sile- 
nus, the catch-fly, was the chief of this band. Streams of 
wine flowed from this chariot as it passed along. Behind 
this followed another car of the same size, drawn by six 
hundred men ; it contained a wine vat of immense size, made 
of leopard skins sewed together. This vessel contained three 
thousand measures, or twenty-seven thousand gallons of 
wine, which it poured forth in streams as it passed along. 
Then came the vessels for storing and for drinking the 
ardent fluid. This last car was followed by one hundred and 
1 twenty satyrs and sileni, carrying pots, flaggons, and large 
j cups full of gold. They may truly represent the retailers, 
I coming to the manufacturers to replenish their stock. Then 
I came another car drawn in like manner, by six hundred men, 
! bearing a silver vat which could contain flve thousand four 
; hundred gallons ; this vessel was wrought with chased work ; 
I figures of animals adorned the rims, the handles and the 
base. Next appeared two cars, on each of which rode an 
enormous silver bowl, eighteen feet in diameter, and nine in 
i hight ; the top was studded with jewels, the bottom being 
1 concave, reposed upon several silver animals, the central ones 
I being a foot and a half high, and the others being of less 
' size. Next came ten great vats and sixteen other vessels, 
j the largest of which contained two hundred and seventy gal- 
lons, and the least forty-five gallons. There were also ten 
I caldrons, and twenty-four vases with two handles, standing 



64 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

upon two salvers; two silver wine-presses on which were 
placed twenty-four goblets ; a table of massive silver, eighteen 
feet in length, and thirty that were sixty feet long ; one 
silver tripod whose circumference was twenty-four feet, and 
three smaller ones of less value, adorned with precious stones 
in the middle. 

Then came eighty delphic tripods, all of silver. These 
were small ; they were accompanied with twenty-six ewers, 
sixteen flagons, and one hundred and sixty other silver 
vessels, the largest of which contained fifty-four gallons, and 
the smallest eighteen. 

Then came vessels of gold. Four of these were Lacedsemo- 
nic and were crowned with vine leaves ; two were Corinthian 
vases, whose rims were embellished with the figures of ani- 
mals ; tliese contained seventy-two gallons. Then a wine 
press on which stood ten goblets ; then two vases containing 
forty -five gallons, and two that held eighteen gallons. There 
were also twenty-two vessels for keeping liquors cool, the 
largest of which contained two hundred and seventy gallons, 
and the smallest about nine gallons ; there were four very 
large golden tripods, and a golden basket, in which to place 
the golden vessels. This last was enriched with jewels, and 
was fifteen feet in length ; it was divided into partitions one 
above another. Figures of animals above three feet in hight 
were carved upon it. Two goblets and two glass bowls with 
golden ornaments, two salvers four cubits in diameter, and 
three of less size, ten ewers, an altar four feet and a half 
high, and twenty-five dishes, made up the complement of 
golden vessels on these cars. 

After all this display of treasure to be used in wine-bib- 
bing, marched sixteen hundred boys, dressed in white gar- 
ments, crowned with ivy or pine. Two hundred and fifty of 
them carried golden vases, four hundred of them had silver 
vases, and three hundred carried liquor cooler?. These were 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 65 

followed by another company, bearing large drinking ves- 
sels, twenty of which were of gold, fifty of silver, and three 
hundred variegated. There were several tables six feet in 
length, each one supporting some object of curiosity. On 
one was represented the bed of Semele, with the clothing 
lying upon it; some of golden brocade, and others adorned 
with precious stones. 

It would be impossible to follow this procession through, 
in the exact order, on account of its great length and 
tediousness. We will not, therefore, do more than men- 
tion some of the most prominent objects. In one car, 
thirty-three feet in length and twenty-one in breadth, 
which was drawn by five hundred men, was represented 
the god Mercury, with a golden caducous in his hand, and 
clothed in splendid raiment, standing by a deep cavern, 
from which issued out and flew about pigeons, ring-doves, 
and turtles, to whose feet were fastened little bands, that 
they might be caught by the people. From the cavern 
issued two streams, one flowing with milk, and the other 
with wine. Around this fountain stood the nymphs, with 
crowns of gold. 

The representation of the expedition of Bacchus into 
India, constituted an imposing portion of this procession. 
The statue of this god was eighteen feet in hight, arrayed 
in purple, and wearing a golden crown, intermixed with 
ivy and vine leaves. In his hand, he held a long golden 
thyrsus. His feet were shod with sandals of gold. He 
was mounted upon an elephant, upon whose neck was 
seated a satyr, above seven feet high, crowned with gold, 
wrought in imitation of pine branches. The satyr was in 
the attitude of blowing a trumpet, made of a goat's horn. 
iUpon the elephant's head was an ivy crown of gold, and 
all of his trappings were of the same precious metal. 
I Bacchus was followed by five hundred young virgins. 



66 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

clothed with purple dresses and golden girdles ; one hun- 
dred and twenty of these wore crowns of gold. They, in 
turn, were followed hy one hundred satyrs, armed with 
silver and copper weapons, not unlike the knights errant 
of the days of chivalry. Next came five troops of crowned 
sileni and satyrs, mounted on asses, harnessed with gold 
and silver. 

Then came a long train of chariots, drawn hy heasts, 
twenty-four hy elephants, sixty by he-goats, twelve by lions, 
six by wild goats, fifteen by buff'aloes, four by wild asses, 
eight by ostriches, and seven by stags. The drivers in 
these chariots were young lads, dressed like charioteers, 
wearing broad-brimmed hats. Other smaller boys rode 
with them, having tiny weapons of war, and clothed with 
mantles embroidered with gold ; accompanying these were 
other cars, drawn by camels and mules, carrying tents 
resembling those of the Barbarians. 

Within these tents were women of India and other 
nations, in the dress of slaves. These cars also carried 
immense quantities of incense, safi'ron, cinnamon, ivys and 
other odoriferous spices. 

Another group was composed of a large band of Ethio- 
pians, armed with pikes. One company of them carried 
six hundred elephants' teeth, and another two thousand 
branches of ebony, while a third carried sixty cups of gold 
and silver, with a large quantity of gold dust. 

Two hunters, carrying gilded darts, marched at the head 
of two thousand four hundred dogs, gathered from India, 
Arcadia and the interior of Asia. One hundred and fifty 
men supported trees, to which were fastened birds and deer. 
Others carried cages, in which were parrots, peacocks, turkey- 
hens, pheasants, and a great number of African birds. 
Then came one hundred and thirty Ethiopian sheep, three 
hundred Arabian sheep, twenty sheep of Euboea, twenty-six 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 67 

white Indian oxen, eight Ethiopian oxen, one white hear, 
fourteen leopards, sixteen panthers, four lynxes, three 
small hears, a cameleopard, and an Ethiopian rhinoceros : 
quite a caravan of animals, and far more appropriate than 
human heings to wait upon Bacchus. 

Next came the drunken god himself, a second time, wear- 
ing a golden crown, with leaves of ivy. He was repre- 
sented as fleeing from the wrath of Juno, and hiding at 
the altar of Ehea. By his side stood Priapus, wearing a 
similar crown. Juno was there, wearing a golden diadem. 
The statues of Alexander and Ptolemy, with similar crowns 
of gold, were in the group. Near to Ptolemy stood the 
image of Virtue, crowned with golden olive hranches, and 
also another image, representing the city of Corinth. Near 
by them was a great vase, filled with cups of gold, and a 
large golden howl, which contained forty-five gallons. Sev- 
eral women, richly arrayed, wearing crowns of gold, and 
each bearing the name of some Grecian city or island, fol- 
lewed this car of Bacchus. In one car was carried a golden 
thyrsus, one hundred and thirty-five feet in length, and a 
silver lance, ninety feet long. 

In one portion of the procession w^ere horses and wild 
beasts, including twenty-four lions, of prodigious size. 
Moreover, there were numbers of cars containing a great 
number of statues of the kings and deities. In one group 
were six hundred men, one-half of whom played on gilded 
harps, while the others sung the chorus. Near at hand 
were two thousand bulls, all of the same color, adorned 
with collars and crowns of gold. 

Such was the representation of the great expedition of 
Bacchus into India. 

It was followed by a procession of Jupiter and a great 
number of other deities ; and, last of all, that of Alexan- 
der the Great, whose image, standing between Victory and 



68 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Minerva, was placed in a car and drawn by elephants. 

Several thrones of gold and of ivory, with crowns and 
horns of the same metal, accompanied this procession. 
One of these thrones was that of Ptolemy Soter, which 
supported a golden crown of the weight of ten thousand 
pieces of gold, equal, in value, to about twenty-five thou- 
sand dollars. 

In this procession were carried three thousand two hun- 
dred crowns of gold, and an almost infinite number of 
golden vessels, of various forms and sizes, for various pur- 
poses. Four hundred chariots were required to carry the 
silver vessels, and twenty for the golden ones, while the 
spices alone filled eight hundred chariots. 

This grand coronal procession was guarded by an army 
of fifty-seven thousand six hundred foot, and twenty-seven 
thousand horse. 

If the foregoing facts were not well attested by authen- 
tic historians, who flourished shortly after the time, and 
some of them at the very time, and had every facility for 
obtaining correct information, we could not credit the 
account. Where could so much gold have been obtained? 
How could such unbounded magnificence be supported? 
• The reader may judge that some of my remarks and 
explanations, in the foregoing account, are frivolous, or too 
severe. I acknowledge that some of them are fanciful ; 
but it is a truth, that these pompous Bacchanalian dis- 
plays were the forerunners of that spirit of intemperance 
which, in after times, diflTused itself among the mass of 
the people, and produced, in our days, the great evil of 
which we complain. Rollin makes the same reflection in 
the following words : " But what can we say, when we 
behold a sacred procession and a solemnity of religion 
converted into a public school of intemperance and licen- 
tiousness, calculated only to excite the most shameful 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. m 

passions in the spectators and induce an utter depravity of 
manners, by presenting to their view all the instruments 
of excess and debauchery, with the most powerful allure- 
ments to indulge in them, and that under the pretext of 
paying adoration to the gods. What divinities must those 
be that would suffer, and even exact, so scandalous a pomp 
in their worship ? '' 

TROUBLE IN THE KITCHEN DEPARTMENT OF MACEDON AND THRACE, 
B. C. 280. 

Thrace had been governed by Lysimachus, one of the 
generals of Alexander, ever since the partition of the 
empire. He was, therefore, one of the four heads of the 
third beast to which Daniel refers. Macedon had, of late, 
been added to his kingdom. His capital was Byzantium, 
the modern Constantinople. 

Ptolemy, king of Egypt, had several wives, and by them 
many children. Agathocles, eldest son of Lysimachus, 
had married Lysandra, a daughter of Ptolemy, and Lysi- 
machus himself, although an old man, about the same time 
married Arsinoe, another daughter of the same king — 
half sister of his daughter-in-law. Both sisters were soon 
mothers, and each became jealous and anxious that the 
crown should descend to her children, to the exclusion of 
the other. In Egypt, the same difficulties were brewing. 
Ptolemy had two sons, Ceraunus and Philadelphus. These 
were half brothers, and own brothers to the sisters in 
Thrace. Arsinoe, the young queen of the old king of 
Thrace, was the daughter of the youngest of the wives 
of Ptolemy, as was also Philadelphus. But as we have 
seen in the history of those kings, the elder son of the 
elder mother was set aside, and Philadelphus succeeded 
to the throne of Egypt ; while Ceraunus fled to the court 
of Lysimachus, to his sisters. The two queen mothers in 
Egypt were constantly promoting discord between their 



70 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

daughters in Thrace. The arrival of the fugitive, Cerau- 
nus, caused Arsinoe, the young step-mother and queen, to 
suspect that the half hrother and sister would unite their 
interests against herself and children. Without waiting 
for any evidence of wrong on their part, she resorted to 
the usual device of step-mothers, that of inflaming the 
father's mind against his own children. The old doating 
Thracian, so enamored of his youthful wife, and the 
children of his declining years, listened to Arsinoe, who 
artfully represented to the king that his oldest son was 
tired of waiting for his father's death ; that he had con- 
spired to dethrone and murder him, and that the lives of 
Lysimachus, herself and children, were in such imminent 
danger as to admit of no delay. The deceived old king 
drank in this story as so much truth, and, without the least 
inquiry, caused his son to he thrown into prison and mur- 
dered. Thus, although perfectly innocent, perished the 
legitimate heir to the throne, through the intrigue, jeal- 
ousy and infernal machinations of the harem. Oh ! what 
good a woman can accomplish ; what evils she often does 
produce ; which will preponderate when women's rights pre- 
vail ? What fearful forebodings must have spread the pall 
of gloom over the princes at the court of the Bosphorus. 
The eldest son of Egypt's king had fled from the younger ; 
while, by the intrigue of the younger mother, the younger 
son was crowned by the partial father ; the eldest son of 
the Macedonian court was murdered by the too partial 
monarch, at the instigation of the mother of the younger 
members of the royal family. Together they mingled 
their sighs, their fears, their plans for the future. Cerau- 
nus, the fugitive; Lysandra, the sister and widow of the 
murdered prince, with her children, and Alexander, a 
brother of the late victim, dare no longer remain in 
Thraxie, where an old dotard wears the crown, but a sister 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 71 

administers authority — a sister, artful, cunning, implaca- 
ble, infernal, whose hands were stained by the blood of her 
step-son. Let us listen to the conversation of the mourn- 
ing group: "But where may we fly? who will shelter us? 
who dare protect us ? Our father's throne in Egypt is filled 
by Philadelphus, the hater of our mother and of us, the 
brother of the bloody Arsinoe, of whom we are now in 
fear ; the throne of our grand-father of Macedon is united 
to that of this hateful Thrace. Nor are there any in the 
family of Cassander who can aid us — let us away to Seleu- 
cus." And to Seleucus, king of Syria, the whole party fled, 
and were cordially received with open arms. His residence 
was, at that time, at Antioch. Will old Lysimachus, after 
the murder of his son, and the abandonment of the children 
of his earlier years, come down quietly and in peace to his 
grave ? Ah, no ! the Most High God rules in the nations 
of the earth, and is not unmindful of the doings of his rep- 
resentatives. It may have been the rasliness, rather than 
I the malignity of Lysimachus, that caused him to murder 
his own son ; but he that is too weak to be just, ought no 
I longer to be king. Many of his faithful officers were 
I shocked at his barbarity, and deserted their post. These 
' following the fugitives, presented themselves at Antioch. 
j Let us away after them to Syria. '' Seleucus, the great king 
I of the East, behold us, desolate, sad, forsaken, and forlorn; 
the children of your fellow generals in the army of the 
conqueror; by your love for your associates in arms in 
your youthful days, we beseech you, remember our wrongs; 
avenge us and restore us to our home, where slumber your 
grateful loves. Besides, what advantage it will be to you. 
Awake, O youthful ambition ! arouse ye, powers of other 
days, and extend the empire of Seleucus, that his name 
may descend by the side of Alexander the Great." The 
fugitive officers join in this effort. Seleucus determines 



f2 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

upon a war with Lysimachus. These were now the only 
two surviving generals of Alexander. A mighty army 
was raised ; Selcucus, in person, led the host, and soon Asia 
Minor, which had belonged to Lysimachus, was added to 
the kingdom of Syria. Sardis resisted, but was soon cap- 
tured. The old Thracian now began to move. He led an 
army across the Hellespont, and in Phrygia met his enemy. 
A severe battle was the result, and Lysimachus was slain, 
his kingdom transferred to the nkonarch of Syria and all 
the East, and the blood of his royal son avenged. 

Thus ended the year 281, B. C. For the successes and 
enlargement of his empire, Seleucus received the title of 
Nicator, the Conqueror. Arsinoe, the murderer, the Jeze- 
bel of the times, the instigator of all these ills, still lives 
to receive, in due time, the just reward of her bloody deeds. 
Seleucus, who was himself a native of Macedon, from which 
his public duties had separated him ever since the com- 
mencement of the expedition of Alexander, now desired to 
make his native land the home of his old age. In all these 
recent movements, Ceraunus had accompanied him. This 
exile now began to cast his longing eyes upon the lands 
over which his mother's ancestors had once reigned. Am- 
bition fired his soul, and destroyed all those generous, noble 
feelings of gratitude toward his benefactor, which he should 
have cultivated. Seleucus was intending to proceed to Egypt 
to dethrone Philadelphus, and crown Ceraunus, whom he 
deemed the rightful heir. But that ungrateful vagabond 
would rather be an independent king, than feel a sense of 
obligation to any surviving monarch for his elevation. He 
therefore undertook to wipe out the debt, by the murder of 
his benefactor. Ceraunus assassinated Seleucus in the year 
280 B. C, and seven months after the death of Lysimachus. 
Thus perished the last general of Alexander of Macedon. 

Ptolemy Ceraunus, half brother of Philadelphus, king of 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 73 

Egypt, was crowned king of Macedon. By his mother, he 
was the grandson of Antipater, the oldest of Alexander's 
generals. His two cousins, Antipater and Alexander, sons 
of Cassander, had been some time dead. He now proposed 
marriage to his half sister, Arsinoe, the widow of the late 
Lysimachus. She was the mother of two youthful sons by 
her former husband, on whose account ^she had embroiled 
the kingdom in the recent wars, and we are now about to 
see the fruit of her intrigues. Ceraunus professed the 
most ardent affection for her; urged her to marry him, and 
promised great things : but the real motive of all his con- 
duct was the desire to remove every possible claimant to 
the throne. Incest, at that time, was not uncommon with 
the princes of the East. This near relationship was no 
obstacle in the mind of the widow, who herself had mar- 
ried the father of her own brother*in-law. But Arsinoe 
remembered her own guilty conduct toward him and all the 
family. She had learned the character of Ceraunus, in the 
murder of Seleucus, his benefactor, and she recollected that 
he who now sought her hand in marriage was the rival and 
enemy of her own brother, Philadelphus, of Egypt. She 
therefore declined, delayed and deferred the union as long 
as possible, but ultimately yielded her assent to the mar- 
I riage, which was celebrated with great pomp, and many 
I demonstrations of mutual attachment. Ceraunus expressed 
the greatest regard for his two youthful step-sons. All this 
was a farce. The wedding is over. Now, Arsinoe ! now is 
I the time of I'etribution. Thou hast ca^used the murder of 
thy step-son, and God will reward thee doubly. The party 
had proceeded to Bella, the ancient capital of Macedon. 
iHere Ceraunus ordered his guards to enter the apartment 
I Df the young princes — the one about sixteen and the other 
ywelve years of age. They fled to their mother, and while 
*he attempted to shield their bodies with her own, she beheld 
7 



74 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

the ruffians, in obedience to the order of the king, plunge 
their daggers into her sons. Their blood drenched all her 
garments ! Oh ! where was then the spirit of Agathocles, 
who, for their sake had been murdered ? Where was the 
spirit of Lysimachus, who, by the unjust murder of his own 
true and faithful oldest son, had brought all these calamities 
upon his household. , Arsinoe, in ragged and bloody garments, 
was driven into exile to linger out a useless and jealous life, 
in prison and in want, and Ceraunus is king without a riA^al. 
Who shall avenge the crime of the usurper ? None of the 
generals of Alexander yet survive ; Philadelphus has more 
on his hands than he can do, and these are not the subjects 
of prophesy. Hear, oh Heaven ! and forgive him not. Let 
him not descend in peace to the grave ; let not his children 
possess the throne after him. 

About this time came on the famous invasion of the Gauls, 
who, after disturbing Macedon and Greece, ultimately planted 
a colony in Asia Minor, called Galatia, to whom Paul wrote 
one of his epistles. Against this western host Ceraunus 
marched, with vain, pompous and blasphemous boasting. 
The two armies met ; the Macedonians were defeated and cut 
to pieces. Ceraunus was wounded, taken prisoner, and hia 
head cut off, which, upon a pike, was presented to his friends. 
Righteous are thy judgments, Oh Lord God Almighty ; who 
shall not fear thee ? Thus perished Ceraunus, whose name 
signifies the thunderer. If women are soon to bear rule 
over the world, as some are prophesying, I do hope and pray 
that their cunning, intriguing, managing administrations 
will being forth better fruit than those of Eurydice and 
Berenice, wives Ptolemy, or Lysandra and Arsinoe, their 
mischief-making daughters, the prmcesses of Macedon and 
Thrace. Ceraunus was succeeded by Melagar Sosthenes, 
Antigonus Gonatus, son of Demetrius, Antigonus Doson, 
Philip and Perseus ; then came the Eoman sway. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. fS 

■ PTOLEMY PHILADELPHUS. B. C, 265. 

' Another Kitchen Cabinet— The S.xne in Lyhia.—West 
'1 of Egypt along the shore of the great sea, were the famous 
^ gardens of the Hesperides, descrihed in the songs of the 
' ancient bard. Here the Lvhian desert had been reclaimed 
bj industry and art. Groves of fruit trees and pleasant 
' gardens smiling with roses in deepened plats of ground, 
' rewarded the efforts of the liusbandman. Here dwelt the' 

■ Lybian. Near at hand were the Cjrenians, the descendants 
\ of a Greek colony. These were the people, and this the 
^ theater of those petty wars, whicli resulted in the ruin of 
I" Pharaoh Hophra many years before. Lybia and Cyrenia had 
' been united to Egypt, and with that country had become part 
' of the Great Macedonian Empire, and were subject to the 

authority of Ptolemy Soter. This king had married several 
' wives, one of whom, Berenice, a widow, had a son, Magus, 

who, at his mother^s request, was appointed satrap of Lybia 

and Cyrene, in whicli office he continued after the death of 
i Soter, Philadelphus being his younger brother by the same 

mother. Magus had married Apame, the sister of Anti- 
jochus Theos, and the grand-daughter of Seleucus, who was 
I assassinated by the ungrateful Ceraunus. Ambitious of 
I kingly honor, Magus rebelled, threw off the authority of 
ihis brother, Philadelphus, and assumed the independent 
I crown of those provinces of which he was before but the 
! governor. To sustain his present position, he thought he 
I must also subvert the government of Egypt. He therefore 

marched an army toward Alexandria, relying upon the co- 
I operation of his father-in-law, Soter, king of Syria. Phila- 
ielphus marched out of his capital to receive his rebellious 

jrother ; but Magus now heard of an insurrection in the 
I -ear, and therefore began a hasty retreat, to quiet matters at 



lome. 



Philadelphus prepared to harrass the retreating army of 



f^ THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Magus ; but while tlius occupied, a new thunder cloud arose 
in the heavens, and threatened to pour a tempest upon 
Egypt. About four thousand of the Gauls, who had invaded 
Macedon and slain Ceraunus, had been taken into the service 
of Philadelphus. Just in the heat of this pursuit of Magus, 
these foreigners rebelled against Egypt, and Ptolemy was 
obliged to face about and meet this new foe. In the sequel 
the Gauls were completely annihilated, by being decoyed into 
an island of the Nile, where they were so closely guarded, 
that they either died of starvation, or were slain by each 
other. Magus had thus timxc to quiet matters at home, and 
prepare for another invasion of Egypt. Antiochus of Syria 
was to make another attack on the other side, so that by 
dividing the forces of Ptolemy, they hoped to triumph over 
him ; but that monarch had sufficient sagacity to discover 
and derange their plans. His navy so harrassed aU the 
coast of Syria, that Antiochus could not invade Egypt, and 
without him the Lybian king feared to attempt it. 

After a time. Magus being an old man, desired to nego- 
tiate for peace. The women were the wire-workers. Bere- 
nice, the daughter of Magus, was to be given in marriage 
to Evergetes, the eldest son and heir to the crown of Phila- 
delphus. Lybia was to be the dowry of the bride, and the war 
to cease. (B. C, 258). The nuptials were not immediately 
consummated. The next year old Magus died, after ruling 
Lybia fifty years. At this time Antiochus Soter, of Syria, 
died, and was succeeded by Theos. 

Apame, the widow of Magus, was not disposed to surren- 
der the crown and kingdom so quietly to Egypt, especially 
as she had a brother on the throne of Syria to support her 
claims. She therefore sought to break up the nuptial 
arrangement. She sent to Macedon, and invited Demetrius, 
a nobleman, to visit her court, to whom she promised Bere- 
The new guest and intended son-in-law, 



THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 77 

arrived at the gardens of the Hesperides ; a new shuflfling of 
the cards takes place. Apame becomes enamored of Deme- 
trius, and instead of giving him Berenice, she is herself 
married to him. Demetrius desired the kingdom, but cared 
but little for either of the ladies. He assumed the reigns 
of government, and treated the daughter and officers of 
State with so much insolence, that a conspiracy was formed 
against them. Berenice herself led the conspirators to the 
door of her mother's apartment, where entering, they slew 
Demetrius upon the bed of Apame, although she endeavored 
with her o"v\ti body to shield him from their weapons. Apame 
was sent to her brother in Syria ; and Berenice repaired to 
Egypt, where she, according to the treaty of her father, soon 
became the wife of Ptolemy Evergetes, 256 B. C, and eight 
years before her husband became king. This is the queen 
whose golden hair became a constellation in the heavens. 
What amiable and lovely things ladies become when clothed 
with power and inducted into all the intrigue of courts. 
1 

SELEUCUS NICATOR, B. C, 300. 

i After the battle of Ipsus, in which Antigonus was slain, 
I the vast empire of the Macedonians was again divided, but 
! the boundary was not materially different from that of the 
j former division. 

I Seleucus had been governor in Babylon, from which place 

I he had been expelled. He had instigated the war against 

Antigonus, and became king of all Syria, which term, at this 

time, embraced a large portion of Alexander's conquests, in 

Asia. KoUin thus speaks of it : . 

" The dominions of this province are usually called Syria, 
because Seleucus afterward build Antioch, in Syria, and 
made it the chief place of his residence, in which his succes- 
sors, who, from his name, were called Seleucid^e, followed his 
example. It includes not only Syria proper, but the vast 



TB THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

and fertile provinces of upper Asia, which constituted the 
Persian empire. Seleucus had exercised some autliority in 
the provinces for twenty years previously, but did not receive 
the crown, nor was he acknowledged king until the death of 
Antigonus. After this event he reigned another twenty 
years. As far as is known to us, the kingdom flourished 
under his administration. He built several cities, among 
which were Antioch, Seleucia and Apamia. A very unusual 
domestic affair occurred in the latter part of his life. Ac- 
cording to the custom of the eastern provinces, Seleucus had 
a number of wives ; among others was Stratonice, a young 
and beautiful girl. The eldest son of Seleucus was Anti- 
ochus, afterward called Soter. This son became deeply 
enamored of his step-mother, Stratonice, but owing to the 
relation she sustained to his father, he dared not reveal his 
wishes, and fell sick from the disorder of his mind. His 
physician discovered the real malady, and represented the 
case to his father, who so ardently loved his son, that he 
resigned his queen, and she became the wife of Antiochus. 
We may wonder at the readiness of his father to sacrifice 
his interest for his son, but it must be recollected that Seleu- 
cus w^as at this time about eighty years of age, that he had 
other wives, and that Stratonice was still young and unsuit- 
able for him. Soon after this event occurred the war of 
Seleucus with Lysimachus, of which an account is given in 
the history of Ceraunus the ingrate. 

" This prince had extraordinary qualities ; and without 
mentioning his military accomplishments, it may be justly 
said that he distinguished himself among the other kings 
by his great love of justice, by a benevolence and clemency 
that endeared him to the people, and by a peculiar regard 
for religion. He had also a taste for polite literature, and 
made it a circumstance of pleasure and glory to himself to 
send back to the Athenians the library which Xerxes had 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 79 

carried away, and which he found in Persia. He accompa- 
nied that present with the statues of Harmodius and Aristo- 
giton, whom the Athenians honored as their deliverers." 

ANTIOCHUS SOTER, B. C. 310. 

This was the oldest son and successor of Seleucus the 
gi*eat. Notwithstanding his marvelous love for his step- 
mother, whom he married, he had other wives and children, 
who figure on the pages of history. Among others Apame, 
who was the wife of Magus of Lyhia, and the mother of 
Berenice, the wife of Ptolemy Evergetes. 

An account of the intrigue and wars of which she was the 
ruling cause, is given in the life of Ptolemy Philadelphus. 
Another daughter of his was Laodicea, of whom an account 
is given in the history of Evergetes. 

Why Antiochus should have been called Soter is not very 
apparent, for he neither saved his country, nor did any other 
very worthy deed. Three events in his history constituted 
the record of his administration. Pirst : Antigonus, son of 
Demetrius, of whom we have so often spoken, claimed the 
throne of Macedon. Soter also claimed it, by virtue of his 
father's conquest at the time of the affair of Ceraunus. 
The rivals purposed to determine the title by force of arms. 
Bythinia was at this time governed by a king Nicomedes. 
This kingdom was situated just south of the Black sea, and 
lay almost immediately between Syria and Macedon. Nico- 
medes had lent his aid and influence to the party of Anti- 
gonus against Antiochus ; for this reason tlio king of Syria 
first marched against Bythinia, but the forces were so nearly 
equal in strength, that little was done, and both parties 
remained inactive for a time, during which negotiations were 
in progress, which resulted in a peaceful settlement of the 
question. 

Stratonice, the beloved wife of Antiochus, had a daughter, 



80 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Phila, by her first husband, Seleucus. This daughter was 
the half-sister as well as step-daughter of the king of Syria. 
Phila became the prize in this new arrangement. She was 
given to be the wife of Antigonns, and her dowry was to be 
whatever claim Soter might have, more or less, to the king- 
dom of Macedon. This arrangement was finally consum- 
mated, and the throne of Macedon remained in the family 
of Antigonus for a long time. 

The army of Antiochus now turned their arms against 
the Gauls, who had invaded and desolated Bythinia. In this 
war the Syrians were quite successful, and compelled the 
Gauls to keep within the borders of Galatia. (These Gauls 
were a band of those adventurous barbarians by whom 
Ceraunus was slain). 

Let us reflect upon the satisfactory result of war. Seleu- 
cus, Ptolemy, Cassander, and Lysimachus had united all their 
strength, and in war had sacrificed an untold amount of 
human life and happiness, to destroy and exterminate the 
family of Antigonus and Demetrius, in order that they 
might occupy their thrones in quiet, and trust not them to 
their children. In the sequel we see that it resulted in the 
destruction of the families of Lysimachus and Cassander, 
neither of whose thrones remained in the permanent posses- 
sion of their descendants. But the grand-son of their 
enemy, by Phila, the daughter of Seleucus, one of the con- 
federates, was at last firmly seated upon the throne, and 
transmitted it to his posterity. And such is usually the 
result of ambitious wars. The very opposite of the end 
intended is the invariable result ; while the friend of peace 
secures permanent prosperity. Surely he that taketh the 
sword shall perish by the sword. 

Another small kingdom of Asia Minor now comes under 
our view in the history of the times. Pergamos, a city 
with a small territory, had belonged to Bythinia, and had 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 81 

been subject to Lysimaclms of Thrace. But taking advan- 
tage of the distracted state of affairs at tlie time of the 
death of Lysimachus, Arsinoe and her two sons, and finally 
of Ptolemy, Seleucus threw off the yoke of Thrace, while 
its governor, Philet^erus, under favor of Seleucus, assumed 
the crown, and ruled as an independent sovereign. 

Eollin thus speaks of Philetserus : "He served Lysi- 
machus very faithfully in this post for several years ; but 
his attachment to the interest of Agathocles, the eldest son 
of Lysimachus, was destroyed by the intrigues of Arsinoe, 
the younger daughter of Ptolemy Soter, as I have formerly 
related ; and the affliction he testified at the tragical death 
of that prince caused him to be suspected by the young 
•queen ; and she accordingly took measures to destroy him. 
Philetserus, w^ho was sensible of her intentions, resolved upon 
a revolt. He succeeded in his design, by the protection of 
Seleucus ; after which he supported himself in the possession 
of the city and treasures of Lysimachus ; being favored in his 
views, by the troubles that arose upon the death of that prince 
and that of Seleucus, which happened six months after. He 
conducted his affairs with so much art and capacity, amid 
all the divisions of the successors of those two princes, that 
he preserved the city with all the country round it, for the 
space of twenty years, and formed it into a state which re- 
mained for several generations in his family, and became one 
of the most potent states of Asia. He had two brothers, 
Eumenes and Attains ; the former of whom, who was the 
eldest, had a son named als(5 Eumenes, who succeeded his 
uncle, and reigned twenty-two years. 

" Philetserus died about 263 B. C. As he left no children, 
Antiochus Soter now sought to take advantage of his death, 
to annex Pergamos to the kingdom of Syria. This was the 
second event in the public life of Soter. He invaded Perga- 
mos, but his army was met by another, under the command of 



82 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Eumenes, a nephew of Philet^rus, who defeated Soter witli 
a great slaughter. Chagrined and disgraced by this defeat, 
he returned to Antioch, in no very agreeable frame of mind, 
to perpetrate the third act in the tragedy of his reign. 
Soter had a son by one of his wives, whose name has not 
been transmitted to us. Whether he was really guilty of 
any offense, it is difficult for us now to determine. It is 
quit« possible that Stratonice, to favor her own son's inter- 
est, intrigued against her step-son, and charged upon him 
some act of disorder, produced, perhaps, by herself; but 
whatever was the fact, Soter, who had received so signal a 
mark of kindness from his own father, had no compassion 
for his son, who, being accused of producing some commo- 
tion during his father's absence, was ordered to be put to» 
death. Another son of Soter, by Stratonice, was hereupon 
declared heir to the throne of Syria. After this inhuman 
act, Antiochus Soter died, and was succeeded by 

ANTIOCHUS THEOS, B. C. 260, 

Little can be said of this monarch, which has not already 
been given in the history of Philadelphus and the Lybian 
war with Magus, whose wife, Apame, was sister of Theos. 
Antiochus Soter had a daughter, Laodicea, half sister of 
Theos, to whom he was married some time before he 
assumed the crown, and by whom he had two sons, one 
of whom succeeded him on the throne. The first and most 
important event in his reign, occurred soon after he ascended 
the throne. Miletus, an island on the coast of Caria, be- 
longed to that province, and was subject to the kings of 
Egypt. Ptolemy Philadelphus had appointed one Timar- 
chus governor of all these provinces; but the faithless 
governor threw ofl* his dependence, and assumed the gov- 
ernment for himself. He made Miletus the seat of his 
kingdom. Por some reason, Ptolemy had not reduced his 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 83 

revolted subjects, and Timarclius ruled with sucli terrible 
severity that the inhabitants, to get rid of him, applied to 
the king of Syria for aid. He immediately marched, with 
an army, for their relief. He took Miletus, and slew 
Timarchus. It was for this deliverance the people of 
Miletus conferred upon this monarch the title of Theos, 
which signifies god. The other events of his life are 
recorded in the history of Egypt, and are chiefly the 
divorce of Laodicea and marriage with Berenice, the sub- 
sequent divorce of Berenice and restoration of Laodicea, 
and the death of Theos by poison, administered by Lao- 
dicea. 

While Antiochus Theos was eno;ao^ed in a fruitless war 
with Egypt in order to favor Magus, to whom he had mar- 
ried his sister, Apame, a rebellion of a serious nature broke 
out in another quarter. That portion of his eastern prov- 
inces which, in the earlier periods, was called Persia, was 
now called Parthia. Over these provinces Theos had placed 
a governor, Agathocles ; by his cruelty and mismanagement, 
this individual caused a revolt. The governor attempted 
some violence upon a boy, whose brother, to avenge the 
wrong, rebelled against the governor, slew him, and raised 
himself to power. Being successful, he established a new 
kingdom of Parthia. This was about 250 B. C. Bactriana 
was another province which once belonged to Persia, had 
been subdued by Alexander, and added by him to the king- 
dom of Syria. Over this province Theodotus had been 
appointed governor. About the time of the Parthian 
rebellion, Theodotus assumed the crown of Bactriana, and 
became an independent king. 

Theos was so fully occupied with his needless war with 
Ptolemy Philadelphus, that he had no leisure to subdue 
these revolts. At length, after all the war was done, he 
made peace with Egypt, by marrying Berenice. 



S4 THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 



PTOLEMY EVERGETES, B. C. 247. 

But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, 
which shall come with an arm}^ and shall enter into the fortress of the 
king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail : 

And shall also carry captive into Egypt their gods, with their princes, 
and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold ; and he shall con- 
tinue more years than the king of the north. 

So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, (of Syria), and 
shall return into his own land. Daniel xi ; 7, 8, 9. 

On tlie death of Ptolemy Philadelphus, domestic troubles 
of a most tragical character broke out at Aiitioch, resulting 
in a fearful fate to the royal family. 

It must be borne in mind, that Antiochus Theos had 
divorced his wife, Laodicea; had married Berenice, the 
daughter of Philadelphus, and had declared her children 
heirs to the throne. This whole arrangement had been 
consummated purely as a matter of political interest, and 
not from any disregard for Laodicea, nor any affection for 
Berenice. 

As soon as it was known at Antioch that Philadelphus 
was dead, Theos divorced Berenice, and restored Laodicea. 
Ungrateful for this favor, and fearing future changes iu 
the mind of the fickle king, Laodicea poisoned Theos. She 
also attempted the murder of Berenice and her child, but 
the victim fled with her babe to Daphne, where they were 
soon after murdered by the agents of Laodicea. 

Almost the first act of Evergetes, after ascending the 
throne of his father, was an attempt to rescue his sister, 
now a prisoner at Daphne. 

Several of the states of Asia Minor assisted in this effort ; 
hut, before aid could arrive, Berenice and her child had 
perished. Evergetes determined on revenge. He prose- 
cuted vigorously the war already commenced against Seleu- 
cus, the son of Theos who had succeeded to the throne of 



^ 



THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 85 

Syria. Laodicea was captured and publicly executed, in 
retaliation for the murder of the unhappy Berenice. All 
Syria was distracted — the provinces of the north restored 
to the crown of Egypt, and the provinces of Syria, on the 
Euphrates and Tigris, were plundered and devastated. 
Thus bitterly did Laodicea lose her life, and Seleucus much 
of his kingdom and treasures, by their rash and unjustifia- 
ble cruelty toward Berenice, and thus were the words of 
the prophet fulfilled, " and shall enter into the fortresses 
of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall pre- 
vail.^' 

Evergetes, in this expedition, took a vast amount of trea- 
sure, and, among other things, many of the gods of gold 
and silver that had been carried into the East by Cambyses, 
the Persian ; these he brought back into Egypt, and restored 
to the temples. The Egyptians rejoiced to see this resto- 
ration, in their bigotry supposing that tlie presence of their 
ancient deities would restore their land to its ancient glory 
and prosperity. In the overflowing of their joy, they con- 
ferred upon the king the title of Evergetes, which signifies 
benefactor. 

It is probable, that to please the people and maintain 
himself quietly in possession of his throne, Evergetes paid 
a visible respect, and conformed to the external ceremonies 
of the pagan worship of Egypt. Kings are not always 
more exempt from the necessity of courting public favor, 
than the rulers of so-called republics. Ptolemy had retreated 
from the late Syrian war sooner than he intended, on account 
of an insurrection at home ; but the restoration of the gods 
seems to have composed all the discordant elements. 

It is hardly probable that Evergetes had any real confi- 
dence in the so-called divinities of Egypt. He must have 
read the Jewish Bible, which had been translated into his 
native language, by order of his father. 



8'6 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

He had also called at Jerusalem, presented offerings, and 
worshiped in the holy temple in that city, as he returned 
from this Eastern war. Evergetes seems to have partaken 
somewhat of his father's love of learning. 

He added much to the valuable library, previously col- 
lected at Alexandria. This place was fast becoming the 
most learned city in the world. 

A little romance, of a domestic nature, occurred in the 
royal family about this time. The wife of Ptolemy was 
Berenice of Lybia, of whose marriage, and the effort of her 
mother to prevent it, an account is given in the history of 
Philadelphus. Berenice seemed greatly attached to Ever- 
getes. When he set out on this Syrian expedition, she 
grieved and feared he might meet with some ill fortune. 
She made a solemn vow, that if her lord returned in safety, 
she would consecrate her hair to the gods in gratitude for 
his deliverance. 

From the monuments of Egypt, as well as from history, 
we learn that the Egyptians were exceedingly proud of a 
good head of hair. The offering, therefore, of Berenice, 
was no inferior sacrifice. Evergetes returned in safety and 
prosperity ; the pagan vow was performed, the golden locks 
of Berenice were shorn, solemnly consecrated to the gods, 
and deposited in the temple of Venus, on the island of 
Cyprus. By some unknown accident, this hair was lost, 
and Ptolemy became angry at the priests. To pacify and 
please the king, priests, astronomers and poets got up a 
fiction that the sacred hair of Berenice had been transported 
to the heavens, and had become a constellation of stars. 
Berenice was flattered, Ptolemy was pleased, and the care- 
less priests were saved. Ever since that time, a certain 
group of stars has been known by the name of the hair of 
Berenice. May it not be that, from tliis pagan consecra- 
tion the Church of Rome formed the custom of cutting off 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 87 

the hair of the nuns when about to take the vail? The 
following story is related of Evergetes, in reference to the 

I tevenue derived from the Jews, which, if true, must have 

( been about this time : 

It appears that the Jews, in common with other prov-, 
inces, paid an annual tribute to the government of Egypt, 
for which they were inadequately repaid by a partial and 
imperfect protection. Judea had been without a king ever 
since the great captivity under Nebuchadnezzar. The du- 
ties of government were performed by the High Priest, 
whose office was filled at that time by one Onias, who, 

I through carelessness, had neglected to collect and pay over 

' the revenue. 

L Ptolemy construed this neglect into an intended insult. 

\)le therefore sent Athenion to demand the payment of the 

,1 arrears, and to threaten Judea with an invasion. 

Little of importance is known of Evergetes, after the Syr- 

I ian war, except that he enlarged his library, and extended 

'his empire by conquest on both sides of the Eed Sea to the 
straits of Babelmandel ; he, however, lost Lybia and Cyre- 
nia, the dowry of his wife. These were taken from him 
by Demetrius, king of Macedon. After a reign of twenty- 
five years, he died, 222 B. C. Seleucus C. had died several 
years before, a prisoner in the East. Evergetes was much 
older than Seleucus, having been named before the king of 
Syria was born ; thus he " continued more years than the 
king of the north.'' Daniel xi : 8. 

In the latter part of his reign, occurred a great earth- 
quake on the island of Ehodes, which destroyed a large 
portion of the city, and prostrated the famous brazen colos- 
sus, one of the seven wonders of the world. 

With Evergetes departed all the virtuous and noble 

Equalities of the rulers of Egypt. The Ptolemies that 
succeeded, were devoted to sensual delights and acts of 



88 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

treachery and cruelty, until the termmation of the race. 
Several of them were, however, subjects of prophesy. 

Let as now leave the land of the Nile, and repair again to 
Antiochus Seleucus, the successor of Theos, who had been 
greatly perplexed and disheartened by the invasion of Ever- 
getes. He had been unable to save his mother from execu- 
tion, or his country from devastation. When he learned 
that Evergetes was returning into Egypt, he gathered an 
army to continue the war, and succeeded in regaining some 
of his northern provinces. 

He now called upon his brother Hierax, to aid him in the 
war against Egypt. Antiochus Hierax was the younger son of 
Theos and Laodicea. He was called Hierax from his fierce- 
ness, like a hawk. He was at this time about fourteen years 
of age, and readily responded to the call of Seleucus, not from 
fraternal feelings, but from motives of personal aggrandize- 
ment. A large army was collected in the northwest, ostensi- 
bly to invade Egypt, but really to secure to himself the throne 
of Syria. Ptolemy, however, suddenly concluded a truce with 
Seleucus, for the space of ten years, which he did not live to 
te7'minate. Hierax had previously some authority in Asia 
Minor, but Seleucus had promised him the government of, 
all the provinces, as a reward for the intended service against 
Ptolemy. Having now, however, come to terms with that 
monarch, and no longer needing his brother's services, he 
declined bestowing the promised authority. This furnished 
the youthful hero a pretext for war. Seleucus saw that no 
alternative was left but to fight his brother. He therefore 
crossed Mount Taurus, and passed into Galatia, where a 
battle was fought near Ancyra. 

Now Tlieos' sons their arms unite, 

To try the field again ; 
With Egypt's crown they boast to fight, 

T' avenge their mother slain. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 8d 

How soon, alas ! fraternal love 

Is changed to direst hate — 
Against each other now they move, . 

And seal impending fate. 

Few domestic quarrels have been more fruitful of evil 
than those of Syria, in the time of Seleucus Callinicus. The 
death of his father, Theos, of his mother, Laodicea, and his 
step-mother, Berenice and child, have already been recorded. 
Now the two brothers meet in deadly strife on the plains of 
Galatia. The first result of the battle was that Seleucus, 
the king and older brother, was completely routed and his 
hosts dispersed by the young hawk ; yet this victory brought 
no great advantage to the young hero. 

Galatia, where the batle was fought, was at this time 
chiefly occupied by a band of those Gauls, to whom allusion 
has been previously made, and by whom Ptolemy Ceraunus 
J had been slain in Macedon. Many of these Gauls had been 
3m ployed in the army Hierax. After the battle, these peo- 
jple, supposing Seleucus was slain, thought to take advantage 
rf the disturbed state of affairs, and benefit themselves. 
They therefore commenced a war upon Hierax. To pacify 
hem, he gave up to the Gauls all the spoils of victory, and 
^ranted them an independence from his authority. Just at 
ihis juncture, a new actor appeared in the field. Eumenes, 
I prince of Pergamos, learning the disturbed state of affairs, 
uddenly marched an army into Galatia, and commenced a 
var upon both parties, relying upon their divisions for his 
uccess. So sudden and unexpected was this invasion, that 
Ithough the forces of the Galatians and of Hierax united, 
hey were defeated, and all Asia Minor was thus opened to 
iumenes. Hierax was completely routed, and after being 
I he sport of fortune for the space of twelve years, ulti- 
lately fled to his father-in-law, Ariarathes, king of Cappa- . 
j ocia. There he became so troublesome to his friends, that 
I 8 



9Q THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

the king determined to destroy him. Fearful of his impend- 
ing fate, he next fled to Egypt for protection, to that very 
king against Avhom he had taken np arms. Ptolemy, the 
well kn'own enemy of his house, caused Hierax to he thrown 
into prison, where he lingered several years. He ultimately 
eff"ected his escape, hut was murdered hy a hand of rohhers, 
as he wa^ fleeing out of Egypt, B. C. 226. Thus perished 
one of these brothers, who so early in life displayed so much 
energy and courage. 

Eumenes, the conqueror of Hierax, after his victory in 
Galatia, might have made himself master of all Asia Minor, 
but instead of improving his advantage, he abandoned him- 
self to intemperance, and soon died of debauch. 

MACEDON. 

Let us once more return to Macedon. We have before 
related ^he death of the ingrate Ptolemy Ceraunus. He 
was succeeded for a short time on the throne, by his brother 
Melasa, of whom little is known ; soon after this one Sos- 
thenes possessed regal authority, but who, or what he was, 
we are not informed. About 256 B. C, Antiochus Soter, 
son of Seleucus I., and grand-father of Seleucus II., and 
Hierax and Antigonus Gonatus, were rivals for the throne 
of Macedon. This Gonatus was grand-son of the Antigonus, 
a general of Alexander, who so often fought against Ptolemy 
Soter. He was the son of Demetrius, the great machine 
builder, who conducted the siege of Khodes and of Salamis, 
and, who coming to aid Alexander, the son of Cassander, 
robbed him of the throne of Macedon. The rivalship be- 
tween the two aspirants was finally compromised, by the 
marriage of Gonatus with Phila, the daughter of Seleucus ; 
I., and half-sister of Antiochus Soter." 

* This Phila was the daughter of Stratonice, who, from being the step- 
mother, became the wife of Soter. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 91 

Thus, in Syri«i, marriage begins and ends in war, while in 
Macedon, strife begins and ends in wed-love. Antigonus 
Gonatus lived to be about eighty-three years of age, and 
ruled in Macedon thirty-four years. He died about 241 B. 
C, and just about the time that the two brothers in Syria 
were going to battle. 

Antigonus Gonatus was succeeded on the throne of Mace- 
don, by his son Demetrius, w^ho reigned ten years. He made 
himself master of Lybia and Cyrenia, which had been for a 
long time dependent upon Egypt. Demetrius married the 
sister of Hierax, but subsequently divorced her and married 
Phthia, grand-daughter of the king of Epirus. 

Where was Seleucus, the other brother, about this time ? 

After endeavoring to quiet the disturbed state of affairs 
at home, Seleucus undertook to reclaim his eastern provinces 
of Parthia and Media, which, during the war with Ptolemy 
Evergetes and with his brother, threw off the yoke of his 
authority. In his first attempt he entirely failed, and 
abandoned the enterprise in a dishonorable manner. Discord 
at home also having broken out anew, necessitated his hasty 
return to Antioch. 

Subsequently he again attempted the enterprise, and was 
taken captive by the Parthians, with whom he remained a 
prisoner, until the time of his death. His captivity was, 
however, made comfortable by all the attention which the 
king of Parthia could bestow. He died in consequence of a 
fall from a horse. 

Attains, king of Pergamos, successor of Eumenes, taking 
advantage of the distracted state of Syria, was fast making 
himself master of all Asia Minor. Against him, it was 
therefore determined to declare war. Seleucus Ceraunus 
marched an army across Mount Taurus, and entered Phrygia. 
Here sedition arose in the camp, and the king was poisoned. 
Thus ended the exnedition, and the life of Seleucus IJL, 



Q2 THE KINGDOM OE BRASS. 

after a reign of four years. He died on tire same day with 
Ptolemy Evergetes, and was succeeded by Antioehus the 
ereat Aehaeus attended tlie king on this expedition, and 
avenged his death, by the execution of his guilty murderers. 
Seleucus Callinicus had previously married a wife by the 
name of Laodicea, whose brother Androuicus, one of his 
most important generals, had been taken prisoner by Ptolemy 
Evergetes, and carried into Egypt. After many years of con- 
finement, he was delivered to his son Aehaeus, in the year 219, 
B C Seleucus left two youthful sons — Seleucus who suc- 
ceeded to the throne — and Antioehus, afterward called the 
Great Seleucus III. Antioehus was afterward called Ceraunus, 
the thunderer, although no action of his rendered him worthy 
of any fame. They are all gone : Theos, Laodicea, Seleucus 
and Hierax, Gonatus and Demetrius, Ceraunus, the Berenices 
and Evergetes. Their lives have been constant exhibitions of 
family quarrels, wars, bloody treasons, and fratricides. O could 
these quarrels with their bones be buried in the earth, then 
would there be hope for the next generation. Was it so? 
The next chapter will tell us. 



SYRIA AND EGYPT. 

But his sons (the sons of Seleucus CalUnicus) shall be stirred up, and 

shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one (Antioehus the 

Great) shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through (Celosyna, 

Ptolemias and Galilea): then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to 

'''irr.infof^rLth (Ptolem..) s^aU be moved with choler, and 

shall come forth and fight with him, (atKaphia), even with the ung of 

he north: and he (Antioehus) shall set forth a great multitude; but 

th Altitude shall I given into his hands ('f » /.'^^'^^f "' f ^"'^"fj. 

And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted 

np ; and he shall cast down many thousands, Daniel xi : 10, 11, 1-. 

A NEW troupe of actors are on the stage ; a new generation 



THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 93 

of things have arisen. These princes had witnessed the 
follies, the quarrels and the tragical Me of their prede- 
cessors, yet tliey appear not to have acquired wisdom or 
instruction by the bloody lesson. Evil examples are soon 
imitated, and even excelled ; while good ones make but a 
slight impression, and are soon forgotten. 

Ptolemy ascended the throne of Egypt in the same year 
that Antiochus the Great succeeded his brother in Syria. 
The title of Philopater, lover of his father, was bestowed 
upon him ironically, for he was suspected of poisoning his 
father to death. The old feuds between the fathers were 
revived by the sons. In the partition of the empire of 
Alexander, the island of Cyprus and the coast of Phoenicia 
and Palestine were given to Egypt. This was a desirable 
arrangement, as Egypt, although situated upon the sea, 
favorably for commerce, had not timber for ship-building, 
which these provinces could supply; on the other hand, 
Syria and the East compreliended a large territory and 
vast resources. But the contiguity of these possessions 
annoyed the rulers of Antioch, and became the subject of 
a hereditary quarrel, which lasted until the two govern- 
ments were overcome and merged into the all-absorbin o- 
power of Rome. 



ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT, B. C. 222. 

For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude 
^eater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years 
with a great army and with much riches, Danikl xi : 13. 

This distinguished monarch was the sixth of tlie Seleu- 
cida?. He was the grandson of Theos, who was poisoned by 
the jealous queen, Laodicea. He was the third son of 
Seleucus Callinicus. Antiochus was born at Antioch about 
237 B. C. At his father's death, he was sent to Seleucidas, 



94 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

in Babylonia, to be instructed in the wisdom of the 
Eastern Magi, and his elder brother, Seleucus Ceraunus, 
ascended the throne of Syria. The reign of Ceraunus was 
short and inolorious. Havino- marched into Asia Minor to 
subdue a rebellion, the king was poisoned by his subordi- 
nate officers, and Antiochus, being but fifteen years of age, 
was immediately recalled from Babylonia to ascend the 
throne. The events of his administration may be arranged 
under six divisions: 

1. The campaign to subdue Molo and Alexander, in Meso- 
potamia and Babylonia. 

2. The famous wars with Egypt, under Philopater and 
Epiphanes. 

3. A war with his revolted cousin, AchjBus. 

4. The great expedition in the East, and the conquest of 
Armenia, Parthia, Bactriana, and many other provinces. 

5. A war with the Romans ; and 

6. The loss of his life, in attempting to rob the temple 
of Elymas, in Media. 

Success or failure in the pursuits of life, often depend 
upon the right estimate of character. In declining years, 
we are too suspicious and distrustful; in early life, too sim- 
ple and confiding. Many of the indiscretions and failures 
of young men, which are called crimes, are the results of 
generous impulses, and a too ardent and confiding friend- 
ship. Happy are they whose errors, in this respect, are 
discovered sufficiently early to teach them lessons of pru- 
dence and caution ; then may those failures be the best of 
teachers. Energy and decision of character in middle life, 
crowning efforts with triumphant success, are often the 
fruits of early and bitter lessons. 

Antiochus was a type man, representing a large class of 
men, simple, confiding, ardent, yet ambitious, in youth; 
next perplexed and harassed, well nigh overwhelmed by 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 95 

misplaced confidence ; then relying upon self, energetic, 
efficient, cautious, successful, in manhood ; and, at last, hav- 
ing learned to disregard the opinions and feelings of all 
others, by some bold misstep terminating a splendid career. 
Antiochus ascended the throne of his brother, a simple, 
ardent, confiding youth. He immediately procured the 
appointment of a set of oflficers to share with him in the 
administration of authority, expecting the affairs of gov- 
ernment to glide down like a gentle stream. In this 
expectation, he was fated to be disappointed. The follow- 
ing is a programme of the most important ofliicers : Her- 
mias, prime minister ; Epigenis, commander-in-chief of the 
army ; Apollophanes, king's physician ; Achseus, governor 
of Asia Minor ; Molo, governor of Media ; Alexander, gov- 
ernor of Persia ; Xeon and Theodotus, generals. 

Achaeus immediately repaired to Asia Minor, conquered 
Attalus, and subdued all those provinces which had revolted 
from the crown of Syria. The ultimate fate of that noble 
officer, I have given in a subsequent article. 

Hermias, the prime minister, was a vain, haughty, con- 
ceited man, entirely selfish in all purposes, implacable 
toward all, and destitute of the requisite qualifications for 
his station. Having no goodness in himself, he could en- 
dure none in his officers, yet he had the success to gain the 
entire confidence of the youthful king. This, for a time, 
was the misfortune of Antiochus. Hermias was as a mill- 
stone suspended about the neck of the government, and, 
until it was cast off, nothing could prosper. 

Molo and Alexander were brothers. After having re- 
ceived insult and abuse from Hermias, they repaired to 
their stations. What were their thoughts and consultations 
on the way ? Must it not have been something after this 
fashion? "Our king is a simple-minded boy, and can afford 
us no protection in our new homes. The prime minister 



96 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

is a haughty tyrant; we can expect neither favor nor 
friendship from him ; the government of Syria must soon 
be in a distracted stat<3 by his counsel. Why should we he 
dependents of a ruined state, the servants of a mere boy, 
and the victims of a tyrannical prime minister? Would 
it not be more glorious to shine for ourselves?'^ Alexan- 
der and Molo had no sooner reached their posts, than they 
threw off the yoke of Antiochus, and assumed to be inde- 
pendent kings of their respective provinces. 

Epigenis was a man of skill and experience, and sound 
judgment, capable of giving good counsel to his king. He 
was the ablest general of his time ; for these good quali- 
ties, he was the special object of hatred to Hermias. The 
old war between Egypt and Syria, though for a time sus- 
pended, was not terminated. Ptolemy Philopater had just 
ascended the throne of Egypt. When the news of the 
revolt of Molo and Alexander reached Antiochus, the young 
king was perplexed. The ablest officers and wisest nobles 
in Syria, were convened in council to deliberate. Two ques- 
tions were submitted to the council: first, shall the gov- 
ernment proceed immediately to vrar with Egypt for the 
recovery of the provinces south-west of us ; or, secondly, 
shall we proceed immediately against the rebellion in Me- 
dia and Persia. These were questions of war, and the 
discreet commander of the army, whose judgment ought 
to have been respected, was the first to speak in the coun- 
cil. He represented to the king that a revolt was much 
easier quelled in the first outbreak, than after the rebel 
had time to fortify himself, acquire experience in his new 
station, and accustom the people to his government. He 
therefore advised the king to proceed immediately in per- 
son to the East, and recover his revolted provinces, to which 
he had an indisputable title, rather than waste time in an 
uncertain war with a neighboring nation, then at peace 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 97 

with him. Hermias interrupted the speaker even before 
his argument had closed. Hermias was a coward, as men 
of haughty insolence generally are ; he knew that he had 
himself been the primary cause of this revolt. If the king 
marched to the East, he would have to accompany the army, 
and should he fall into the hands of Molo, his reception 
would not be very civil. He was desirous to keep out of 
harm's way. Should any event in the war result in an 
interview between the king and his revolted subjects, the 
evil conduct of the prime minister might come to the know- 
ledge of Antiochus. Hermias therefore spoke decidedly 
against the king's proceeding to the East, and advised 
immediate war on tl!e possessions of Ptolemy. This coun- 
cil was held in the year 221 B. C. 

The advice of Hermias prevailed. Part of the troops, 
under Xenon and TheodotuS) marched eastward, to carry on 
war with Molo, while the king himself, with the rest of the 
army, moved on toward Celosyria. The prime minister 
sought, by every possible means, to keep the young king 
occupied in pleasures and trifles, that he might the better 
usurp the entire management of the government. To this 
end he had induced him to an early matrimonial arrange- 
ment with Laodicea, daughter of Mithridates, king of 
Pontus. It was at Seleucia that he met the bride, and 
celebrated the nuptials with great joy. 

In the midst of this conviviality, news was brought from 
the camp of war. Molo and Alexander had united their 
forces, had met those of the king, had beaten his generals, 
and driven his army from the field. The eyes of Anti- 
ochus began to be opened ; he saw that he had committed 
an error in following the advice of his minister of pleas- 
ure, rather than that of his wise and experienced com- 
mander of the army ; yet he had not decision enough to 
shake off the parasite. He now proposed to lay aside the 
9 



98 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

enterprise against Celosyria, and march against the rebels. 
Hermias persisted obstinately in opposing this decision. 
The king vibrated between two extremes ; on the one side 
was sound judgment, manifest duty and interest, and on 
the other the bad advice of an unworthy counsellor, the 
intensity of the youtliful love of pleasure, and the unwill- 
ingness to offend an officer that ministered to that pleasure. 
When we consider the age and experience of Antiochus, we 
are not surprised to see which end of the scale preponder- 
ated. Hermias declared that it became kings to march in 
person against kings, and send their lieutenants against 
rebels. Antiochus yielded to the opinion of his prime min- 
ister, greatly to the regret of his othA* officers. We shall 
soon see the sad result. A body of troops was again sent 
to the East, to assist those already there in subduing the 
rebels, while the king in person marched against Celosyria, 
where Theodotus, the Egyptian governor, met and defeated 
him, driving his army quite out of the country. Of this 
invasion and defeat, an account is given on a subsequent 
page, in the history of Ptolemy Philopater. The army in 
the East was committed to the care of Xenates, a man of 
no military experience, and possessing no merit, except that 
of being a great favorite of the prime minister. The other 
officers in the East were commanded to subject themselves 
to him. Eaised so suddenly to a high pitch of honor, he 
became haughty and abusive toward his subordinate officers. 
His movements were marked with impudence, and he would 
receive no council. He marched across the Tigris, and fell 
into an ambuscade, where himself and all his army were 
cut to pieces. The king having returned to Antioch from 
his fruitless expedition against Celosyria, and having heard 
of the destruction of his army in the East, once more called 
a council of war. It would seem that three defeats had 
begun to open his eyes. In this council, Epigenis modestly 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 99 

remarked that it would have been best to have marched 
against the rebels at first to pr< vent them from fortifying 
themselves, as they had now done, and that, for the same 
reason, they ought now, with all expedition, to devote their 
whole care and study to this war, which, if neglected, mio-ht 
terminate in the entire ruin of the empire, as by the late 
defeat Babylonia and Mesopotamia were opened to the 
enemy. Hermias raged, reviled and abused the wise coun- 
sellor; he urged the king not to lay aside the Celosyrian 
scheme, declaring that the wisdom and firmness of the 
king would be brought into disrepute. The council were 
ashamed, and Antiochus, for once, was displeased with the 
advice of his prime minister. To march with the utmost 
speed against the rebels, was the almost unanimous resolve. 
Hermias finding that all resistance w^ould be in vain, came 
over on the other side, and was most actively engaged in 
preparations for the war. The army assembled at Apama, 
the general place of rendezvous. 

When we consider the warlike character of the reign of 
the two preceding monarchs, Seleucus Callinicus and Seleu- 
cus Ceraunus, tlie three recent defeats and the marriage 
banqueting of the present administration, we are not sur- 
prised that the finances of Syria were in an embarrassed 
state. Indeed, we are surprised that the whole nation had 
not become bankrupt. Honors and favors are abundantly 
showered upon ministers of war and ministers of voluptuous 
pleasures, while nothing is said about ministers of finance, 
boards of trade, committees of manufactures or presidents 
of agricultural societies. Hence the treasuries of Syria 
were exhausted. 

The country, however, still possessed wealth. In a coun- 
try possessing so mild and bland a climate — so productive 
a soil, yielding every variety of fruit and grain, and rich 
mines abounding in precious metals, as those of Syria — a 



100 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

little industry can not fail to produce competency to its 
inhabitants, if not oppressed by a tyrannical government. 
The army were prepared to march from Apama, when a 
sedition arose among the soldiers. They had been dragged 
through one campaign after another, and had received no 
pay ; they refused to proceed further and endure more 
fatigues, until their just demands were answered. Anti- 
ochus had no money. He was perplexed and disheartened. 
This is a not uncommon state of mind with young men, 
who have entered an important enterprise without the 
necessary experience: little obstacles appear like moun- 
tains, and they become discouraged and abandon further 
efforts. Antiochus in later years, and with more expe- 
rience and a better acquaintance with himself, would have 
felt and acted quite differently. Hermias availed himself 
of the king's embarrassment to gain entire control over 
him, and accomplish his own purposes. He promised him- 
self to pay the demands of the soldiers, and relieve the 
king from his embarrassment. But, while making this 
promise, he desired the king not to take Epigenes on this 
expedition. What could the king do? He must either 
grant the request of his favorite minister, and commit the 
most rank injustice toward his officer, or, for want of funds, 
abandon the entire expedition, and probably lose his throne 
and kingdom. Hermias represented to the king, that as 
Epigenes had disagreed in council, it would be dangerous 
to have two such men in the army. Thus taking advan- 
tages of his own fault, he asks that the good counsellor be 
dismissed, in order that the acknowledged bad counsellor 
may be retained, The king yielded to the advice of his 
minister, and ordered Epigenes to return to Apama. So 
the soldiers were paid, and the army advanced. The offi- 
cers were frightened into silence by the fate of their com- 
rade, and dared not complain ; while the soldiers were pleased 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 101 

with a prime minister through whom they had received 
their pay. Perhaps the king never troubled himself to 
inquire how the prime minister had relieved him. But the 
careful student in history will ask, from whence came the 
funds to pay these soldiers? They were gathered from 
the people of the land by the prime minister, by the most 
terrible injustice and extortion. The whole country groaned 
under his oppression, yet none dared to inform the king of 
the wrongs that were practiced. 

As the army moved toward the Euphrates, the mind of 
Hermias must have been ill at ease. Should the campaign 
prove unsuccessful, the responsibility of the failure would 
rest upon him for having given bad advice in the onset, 
and for having expelled an able general from the army. 
He had left an enemy in the rear. Perhaps, in some out- 
break of popular enthusiasm, that oflScer might be elevated 
to power, and himself brought to punishment for his oflPenses. 
He therefore resolved upon the destruction of Epigenes. A 
conspiracy was formed between him and Alexis, governor 
of Apama, for this purpose. A servant of the general is 
bribed. A letter, purporting to be from Molo, thanking 
him for the late disturbance and suggesting how he could 
raise an insurrection, was slipped among his papers. Alexis 
then paid a visit to Epigenes, and asked him if he had not 
received a letter from Molo. The old veteran replied that 
he had not, and was indignant at the suspicion of such a 
thing. The governor informed him that he had orders to 
examine his papers, which was accordingly done, and the 
forged letter was found. Epigenes, by the governor's orders, 
was immediately put to death, and the letter sent to Anti- 
ochus in the camp. " The righteous perish and no man lay- 
eth it to heart.'^ The simple-minded king, on the receipt 
of the letter, had no doubt of its genuineness, nor of the 
guilt of this faithful officer. But most of his council at 



102 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

once suspected the trick, tliougli, through fear of the prime 
minister, thoy dared not tell him of it. 

Antiochus now, with all his forces, crossed the Euphrates, 
and, the season having expired, put his army into winter 
quarters. Thus ended the year 221 B. C. 

On the return of the spring, the army crossed the Tigris 
and compelled Molo to come to an engagement, in which 
his army was defeated and cut to pieces. So terrihly was 
Molo disheartened, that he committed suicide. Neolas, 
another brother of the two rebels, fled from the army to 
Persia, to Alexander, who was also in arms against Syria. 
There they abandoned themselves to despair, on account of 
the late defeat, and after having put to death their mother, 
wives and children, destroyed themselves, rather than fall 
into the hands of the implacable Hermias. Thus easily 
were tlie affairs of Antiochus re-established in the East, 
and the people quietly submitted to his authority. To fill 
the cup of pleasure, about this time, a messenger arrived, 
giving information that the queen had given birth to a son. 

Hermias, not content with all his other evil deeds, now 
conceived the idea of murdering the king. He reasoned 
thus: If Antiochus were out of the way, the infant being 
heir to the throne, would be put under the care of the prime 
minister, who would thus have the entire government in 
his own hands for a long period of time. His insolence 
had already rendered him odious to all men. The people 
were crushed under the avarice and cruelty of his tyran- 
nical rule, yet no one dared to inform the king of the oppres- 
sion under which his people groaned. Although Antiochus 
suspected that all was not right, and began to be in fear of 
his own prime minister, yet with whom to consult or what 
to say or do, he knew not. His lords and nobles were afraid 
to counsel him, though they saw his perplexity. At length 
Apollophanes, his physician, having occasion to meet the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 103 

king alone, informed him of the state of the country, of 
the terrible wrongs and outrages practiced by the prirao 
minister, and of the fear of his noble and faithful officers 
to inform him, lest they should experience the cruel revenge 
of Hermias, as others had done. He told the king that it 
was evident that Hermias had some evil design toward him, 
and warned him to remember the fate of his brother, and 
beware. The king heard, believed, and was alarmed. 
Apollophanes assured him that there was no time to be 
lost. The king was thankful that he had one good and 
faithful adviser. A plan of action was immediately devised 
to get rid of this dangerous minister. Accordingly, the 
king, with a very few attendants, retired a little distance 
from the army, upon the pretense of being in ill health. 
He required Hermias to accompany him, but without his 
attendants, as the king required quiet and retirement. 
Then taking a solitary walk with him, he caused Hermias 
to be assassinated, on which account were great rejoicings, 
both in court and camp. The whole realm rejoiced at his 
fall. In Apama, this rejoicing burst out into acts of 
violence, for the populace ran together, and in a tumul- 
tuous manner stoned to death his wife and children. Thus 
retaliation becomes so often the aggressor, and wrongs re- 
echo wrongs again. The king and his army soon returned 
to the capital. 

Antiochus had been deceived and abused by his prime 
minister. His faithful subjects had been oppressed, and 
some of his best officers put to death, and he knew it not, 
for he was a boy and tlie tool of a designing man. But he 
had learned a lesson, and was a boy no longer. From this 
time, he was a man of decision ; he placed full confidence 
in no one ; he examined every thing, and deliberated every 
question for himself. While he took counsel of others, ho 
exercised his own judgment. He observed carefully the 



104 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

character and conduct of all his subordinate officers, and held 
them to a strict account. He was kind and paternal to all 
his people, and protected them in their rights. He was 
energetic and persevering in his ambitious enterprises, and 
although sometimes defeated, was generally successful in his 
campaigns. This character was undoubtedly developed by 
the misrule of the infiimous Hermias. 

In 219 B. C, Antiochus had before him two great enter- 
prises. The first of these was the recovery of Celosyria and 
Palestine, which he attempted, and which ended in the battle 
of Eaphia. Of this expedition and its results, I have given 
an account in the history of Philopater. The other enter- 
prise was the reduction of Achaeus, who had rebelled against 
him. This expedition was commenced in 216 B. C, and 
its results are given in a separate article, under the title of 
Achaeus. 

THE WAR IN CELOSYRIA AND PALESTINE. 

The first year after Antiochus ascended the throne, his coun- 
sellors advised him into a war with Philopater, for the posses- 
sion of these provinces ; he marched against Celosyria, where 
Theodotus, an Aetolian officer, under Ptolemy, governed. This 
faithful officer defended the province, repulsed the invaders, 
and compelled Antiochus for the present to abandon the war. 
While these things were transpiring in Asia, Ptolemy was 
reveling with his profligate courtiers, in Alexandria, leaving 
the care of his provinces to his faithful subjects. Theodotus 
had done well for his king, but the licentious court persuaded 
Ptolemy to believe that he might h^fve done better. This 
heroic officer was summoned into Egypt, to be tried for cow- 
ardice and misconduct. Here, after suffering insult and con- 
tempt, abuse and reprimand, and threatened to be beheaded, 
he was at last acquitted and sent back to his post. AVhat 
can be expected from a government where profligacy runs 



THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 105 

rampant, and faithfulness is rewarded with scorn and abuse ? 
Who will be faithful to Philopater in his next emergency ? 
Theodotus had seen the imbecility of the king, and the cor- 
ruption of the court. He was disgusted with Egypt, and 
although modest and unambitious, and willing to be a subor- 
dinate, he chose to serve a worthier master. Alas! how 
many causes suffer, and are brought to the verge of ruin, by 
the abuse of its best friends. 

RoUin thus speaks of the influence of this visit to Egypt, 
on the mind of Theodotus ; " The luxury and effemfnacy 
of the whole court, to which he had been an eye-witness, 
hightened still more his indignation and resentment. He 
could not bear the idea of being dependent on the caprice of 
so base and contemptible a set of people. And, indeed, it 
would be impossible for fancy to conceive more abominable 
excesses than those in which Philopater plunged himself 
during his whole reign ; and the court imitated but too ex- 
actly the example he set them. It was thought that he had 
poisoned his father, whence he was, by antiphrasis, surnamed 
Philopater. He publicly caused Berenice, his mother, and 
Magus, his only brother, to be put to death. After he had 
got rid of all those who could neither give him good counsel 
nor excite his jealousy, he abandoned himself to the most 
infamous pleasures, and was solely intent on gratifying his 
luxury, brutality, and the most shameful passions. His 
prime minister was Sosibus, a man every way qualified for 
the service of such a master as Philopater, and one whose 
-sole view was to support himself in power, by any means 
whatsoever. The reader will naturally imagine, that in such 
a court, the power of women had no bounds. 

Theodotus could not bear to be dependent on such people, 
and therefore resolved to find a sovereign more worthy of 
his services. Accordingly, he was no sooner returned to his 
government, than he seized upon the cities of Tyre and 



106 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS: 

Ptolemais, declared for king Antioclius, and immediately 
dispatched the courier to invite him thither. 

The next year, Antiochus again commenced war upon 
Egypt. Evergetes in the preceding reign, twenty-seven 
years previously, had taken the city of Seleucia, at the 
mouth of the Orontes, some twenty miles helow Antioch, and 
established an Egyptian garrison in it. Antiochus was an- 
noyed by having a foreign fortress at the seaport most con- 
venient for his own capital. Having determined upon a war 
with Philopater, he marched against Seleucia, besieged and 
took the city, and expelled the Egyptian garrison. He next 
invaded Celosyria. 

This is a rich tableland, lying between the ridges of Leb- 
anon and ante-Lebanon ; its extent north and south is about 
three hundred miles, and to the east about two hundred and 
fifty miles, and lies in latitude from thirty-three to thirty-four 
degrees north. It has a very fine climate, and is watered 
by a number of small streams, one of which forms the 
Leontes, which, issuing through the mountains, empties into 
the sea at Tyre. In this district are still to be seen the 
splendid ruins of Balbeck. Against this province, the pres- 
ent campaign was directed. Theodotus, the Egyptian gov- 
ernor, still held possession. 

His experience during the preceding year, and the ingrati- 
tude of Philopater, were not lost upon him; he therefore 
notified Antiochus, that upon his approach the province 
should be surrendered to him, which was accordingly done, 
and Egypt lost a valuable territory by its abuse and ingrati- 
tude toward an able ofiicer. 

Nicolaus was in the vicinity with an army ; he, however, 
was unwilling to desert his Egyptian master ; he laid siege 
to Ptolemais, guarded the pass of Mount Lebanon, and some- 
what harrassed the Syrians, but was ultimately compelled to 
abandon all the posts along the coasts. Ptolemais, Tyre and 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 107 

Damascus, with military stores and munitions, and forty ves- 
sels were lost to Egypt. Antiochus contemplated invading 
Egypt immediately, but it being the season of the overflow- 
ing of the Nile, he postponed this expedition ; he, however, 
spent the autumn in attacking the Castle of Dora, near 
Mount Carmel. Nicolaus had fortified the place, and offered 
such a resistance that the Syrians were unable to take it. 
A truce for four months was agreed upon, and Antiochus 
returned to Seleucia, and put his army into winter quarters. 
Theodotus was made governor of all the places taken in this 
campaign. Thus ended the year 219 B. C. 

Antiochus was contemplating a war with Achseus, a re- 
volted subject in Asia Minor, and was therefore desirous of 
peace for the time being, with Ptolemy ; on the other hand, 
Philopater, who had not in person entered the field, but had 
left all to his generals, was unprepared at present, to con- 
tinue the war. The four months of truce were exhausted in 
fruitless eftorts to conclude a treaty of peace ; not that either 
contemplated peace — they only wished to gain time. The 
points in debate were, how much and how many territories in 
Asia were given to Egypt in the great partition, and how 
much was reserved to Syria. The spring came and nothing 
was concluded ; the war, therefore, recommenced. 

THE BATTLE OF RAPHIA. 

Nicolaus, the Aetolian, had the command of the Egyptian 
army, and Perigenes of the navy. Provisions were sent to 
Gaza, where all the army made a rendezvous. Erom thence 
Nicolaus proceeded along the coast to Mount Lebanon, and 
seized all the passes through which he supposed Antiochus 
m^ust cross, intending from his advantageous position, to 
stop him. The fleet also sailed along the coast of Palestine 
and Phoenicia. 

The enemy were not idle. The Syrian fleet, commanded 



108 THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 

by Diogneius, came out to meet the Egyptians on the sea, 
while Antiochus put himself at the head of the land forces. 
A battle was fought on the sea and on the land at the same 
time, and but a short distance apart. At sea neither party 
gained any groat advantage, but on land the enemy entirely 
routed Nicolaus, and drove him to retire to Sidon, after having 
four tliousand of his soldiers either killed or taken prisoners. 
Perigenes and the Egyptian fleet also collected at Sidon. 

Antiochus surrounded the place, both by sea and by land, 
intending to besiege the city ; but finding it a difficult task, 
he sent his fleet into Tyre, and marched his army across the 
mountains into Galilea, where all the region round about 
that sea and in Gilead, on the east of Jordan, submitted to 
his authority.'--' 

The winter coming on, nothing more was attempted that 
season. Thus ended the year 218 B. C, and Ptolemy, 
through his indolence, had lost every engagement. Still he 
devoted himself to sensuality, and while his court abounded 
in profligacy, left the defense of his country to his officers. 

In the spring of 217, Philopater seemed to wake up from 
his carousal, and stir up like a lion aroused for the conflict. 
He put himself at the head of his army, and crossed over 
the short desert of Shur, with seventy thousand foot soldiers, 
five thousand horsemen and seventy-three elephants, with all 
the munitions of war. He encamped at Eaphia, between 
Rhinoconuna and Gaza, and determined to await the arrival 
of the foe, who was advancing. Antiochus marched against 
him with a superior force of seventy-two tliousand footmen, 
six thousand horsemen and one hundred and two elephants, 
and encamped at first about a mile and a half from Philo- 
pater, but afterward he came within three-quarters of a mile ; 



* This was the district occupied originally by the tribes of Reuben, 
Gad and Manasseh. 



THE KINSDOM OF BRASS. 109 

here the two armies reposed for some time. Skirmishes 
occurred daily between squads and individuals of the oppo- 
site parties, wlio met in their foraging to obtain wood and 
water. 

Theodotus, the Aetolian, thought this a good opportunity 
to avenge himself on Ptolemy, for the insult offered some 
years before. Favored by the darkness of the night, he 
stole mto his tent and attempted bis assassination. Ptolemy 
was absent, and Theodotus, by mistake, slew his physician, 
supposing him to be the king, and then effected his escape. 

At length tbe two kings resolved to try the results of a 
battle, force against force ; and di-eadful was the conflict 

"The two kings rode from one body to another, at the 
nead of their lines, to animate their troops. Arsinoe, the 
sister and wife of Ptolemy, was not content with exhorting 
the soldiers to behave manfuUy, before the battle, but did 
not leave her husband even during the engagement. The 
issue of It was, that Anti«;hus at the head of his right win^ 
defeated the enemy's left. But while hurried on by at 
mconsiderate ardor, he engaged too warmly in the pursuit. 
Ptolemy, who had been as successful in the other wing, 
charged Antiochus' center in flank, which was then uncov- 
ered, and broke it before it was possible for that prince to 
come to Its relief. An old ofiicer, who saw which way the 
dust flew, concluded that the center wa^ defeated, and accord- 
ingly made Antiochus observe it. 

" But though he faced about that instant, he came too late 
to amend his fault, and found the rest of his army broken 
and put to flight. He himself was now obliged to provide 
for h,s retreat, and retired to Eaphia, and afterward to Gaza, 
with the loss of ten thousand men kiUed, and four thousand 
aken prisoners. Finding it would now be impossible for him 
to maintam himself in that country against Ptolemy, he 



110 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

abandoned all his conquests and retreated to Antioch, with 
the remains of his army." — Rollin. 

On arriving at home, Antiochus hastily sent an embassy, 
desiring conditions of peace, for he feared a revolution among 
his own people, who, since this defeat, had lost confidence in 
him. Peace, by treaty, was now restored, and all Celosyria, 
Phoenicia and Palestine, returned to their old masters, the 
Egyptians. Had Ptolemy been possessed of any ambition 
or energy, he might have taken advantage of his late vic- 
tory, and extended his empire, and so subdued Syria as to 
have saved his kingdom from further trouble in that direc- 
tion ; but he cared more for luxury and effeminate pleasures 
of idleness, than for the toils of the camp. Perhaps this is 
not to be regretted ; if princes will destroy somebody, they 
may as well destroy themselves and their corrupt associates, 
by intemperance, as their neighbors by war. It is question- 
able whether it is not better for mankind to have lazy, 
intemperate kings like the boy-king of the frogs in the fable, 
than to have kings, serpent-like, active and ambitious, who, 
in war shed a vast amount of blood. The inhabitants of 
these Asiatic provinces preferred to be subjects of Egypt 
rather than of Syria, and hastened with presents to pay sub- 
mission to Ptolemy. 

The reason for this preference is not very apparent ; for 
their partiality the Jews sometime afterward suffered severely. 

*' Ptolemy now made a trip through the conquered prov- 
inces, and visited their most important cities. At first he 
was quite pleased with Jerusalem, made oblations, and be- 
stowed considerable gifts upon the temple, and offered sacri- 
fice to the Gal of Israel. From the book of Maccabees we 
learn that he was not content with entering the outer court, 
to which alone the Gentiles were admitted, but was deter- 
mmed to enter into the temple, even to the holy of the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. HI 

holies, to which none but the high priest alone was permitted 
to enter; the whole body of the priests and the Levites 
assembled to oppose the design, while the air was rent with 
wadmg, and all the places were filled with lamentations, lest 
I their ho y temple should be defiled. This resistance but 
I mcreased the curiosity of Ptolemy, to see what was to be 
seen He therefore pushed his away through the guard of 
the Jews, and was about to enter the most sacred retreat, 
when he was smitten of God with sudden terror, which so 
paralized him that he was carried off half dead. On account 
of this accident which had befallen him, he became exceed^ 
mgly exasperated toward the whole Jewish nation, and left 
their city, threatening them with his vengeance. The next 
year he commenced a serious persecution against the Jews 
especially those of Alexandria, whom he endeavored to com- 
pel to worship the Gods of Egypt.^'— i^oZ/wz. 

It is highly probable that Ptolemy had 'some difficulty 
mth the bigoted, obstinate Jews, at Jerusalem, but it is 
hardly credible that the entire story, as above related, is 
true ; it is probably a Jewish fiction. 

^ How fickle and inconstant the public mind! The Egyp- 
tians, who were well acquainted with the effeminacy of 
Ptolemy, did not expect success in the war. They were 
therefore, surprised and confounded at his great victory at 
tie battle of Kaphia; yet upon reflection, they murmured 
that he did not prosecute more vigorously the war, after 
gaming so great an advantage. These murmurs at length 
grew into an open rebellion, about 212 B. C, so that 
Ptolemy, in closing the war with Syria that he might enjoy 
ease, drew upon himself a civil war at home, which, after a 
time, was quieted. I am not aware that the particulars of 
this civil war have been made a matter of record. 

Let us now look a little more closely into the court of 
i^^gypt. Ptolemy had married his own sister, Arsinoe, who 



112 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

is also called Cleopatra/ ■= From and after the triumphant 
victory at Eaphia, lie abandoned himself more entirely to 
sensuality, and his associates were the most corrupt and 
licentious. Agathoclea, his concubine, her brother, Aga- 
thocles, and their mother, ruled the king in every thing. 
Day after day passed in dissolute banquets, and night after 
night in the vilest debauches. Instead of attending coun- 
cils of State, and of projecting measures for the good of 
his people, he played upon instruments and presided at 
concerts ; instead of bestowing offices of trust upon men of 
integrity and experience, he permitted the vilest women to 
dispose of all employments and posts of honor in the gov- 
ernment. The prime minister was Sosibus, a corrupt old 
officer, who had been in power from the early days of Ptol- 
emy Philadelphus, and, with advancing years, had grown 
the worse and not the better man ; his highest ambition 
was to please, by obeying the commands of a corrupt prince 
and his vile courtezans, however unjust these commands 
might be. Arsinoe, the king's wife, who had, with him, 
endured the fatigues of the camp, and contributed so much 
to his success in the battle of Eaphia, had no influence in 
Ptolemy's court ; grieved to see her place supplied by an- 
other, and herself treated with disrespect, she could do no 
less than complain. To hush these complaints, the king 
directed Sosibus to get rid of her ; who ordered one Phi- 
lammon to assassinate her, which was accordingly done. 
The people at length became enraged at so many acts of 
cruelty, and especially this last. They compelled Sosibus 
to resign his office, which was conferred upon Hepolemus, a 



'■' About this time, the Romans sent a deputation to Ptolemy and his 
queen, with presents which indicate the rude and simple state of society 
at Rome at that time. The presents consisted of a robe, a purple tunic, 
and an ivory chair; and, to the queen, of an embroidered robe and a 
scarf. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 113 

young man who had signalized himself in the army. He 
continued to hold the ofSce of prime minister until the death 
of Ptolemy Philopater ; but he possessed neither talent nor 
experience requisite for his station. He was easily corrupted 
by flattery, and was puffed up with pride and haughtiness 
at his exaltation. Following the example of all around 
him, he abandoned himself to profusion, luxury and intem- 
perance. 

Debauchery and excess liad quite worn out the consti- 
tution of Philopater, which was naturally vigorous. He 
ascended the throne in the twentieth year of his age, and 
after a reign of seventeen years died, 204 B. C, and was 
succeeded by his son, Ptolemy Epiphanes, then but five 
years of age. 

AC H^US. 

This young, heroic and unfortunate prince was the son of 
Andromachus, brother of Laodicea, the queen of Seleucus 
II., (Callinicus). Andromachus was himself a prisoner in 
Egypt. When Seleucus III. (Ceraunus) ascended the throne 
of his father, Syria was in a distracted state, and impover- 
ished by unsuccessful wars with Egypt and the Eastern 
provinces. Ceraunus was young and inexperienced just at 
this time, and, encouraged by these misfortunes, Attains, 
king of Pergamos, and successor of Eumenes, the conqueror 
of Hierax, not content with the bounds of his own kingdom, 
was extending his empire all over Asia Minor. 

Young Ceraunus and his counsellors found it necessary 
to check the progress of this revolution, or they might soon 
expect to see him, like Hierax in the preceding reign, aspir- 
ing to the throne of Syria. An army was collected, and 
the king, accompanied by his cousin, Ach^eus, crossed Mount 
Taurus, and marched into Phrygia. Ceraunus was without 
funds, and the army without pay. Misfortune in this fallen 

world is oftener punished than crime ; and honest poverty 
10 



114 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

invites bold, bad men to the commission of evil deeds. Two 
of the officers, Nicanor and Apaturus, conspired and pois- 
oned Ceraunus, whom the soldiers despised because he could 
not pay them. Acha^us, being a man of energy and deci- 
sion, might now easily have made himself their master, 
and ascended the throne of Syria. Indeed, the army offered 
him the crown ; but, true and faithful to his trust, he quelled 
the insurrection,'''^ executed the murderers of the late king, 
and bestowed a crown upon Antiochus, the young brother 
of Ceraunus. We shall see, in the sequel, how his cousin 
rewarded him for his fidelity. 

Antiochus, at this time, was not fifteen years of age ; he 
had been sent by his brother, at the beginning of the war, 
to Seleucia, in Babylonia, to be educated, where he was 
when his brother died. Achaeus having sent an officer and 
part of the army to see the youthful heir fully and safely 
established on the throne, retained the rest and toiled to 
reduce the provinces of Asia Minor to the authority of 
Syria, in which he was entirely successful ; compelling 
Attains to confine himself to his original kingdom of Per- 
gamos. 

This very faithfulness was the primary cause of his ruin. 
It was manifest to all, that Achaeus had done a great and 
good service to the young king. Antiochus was surrounded 
by a most wicked, dangerous set of ministers and nobles, 
whose ill advice had cost him many a loss. These false- 
hearted wretches, to make a show of faithfulness, and at 
the same time to disparage a man whose superior fidelity 
and ability were a rebuke to their idleness and worthiness, 
began to accuse Acha^us of aspiring to make himself king 
of all those provinces of Asia Minor which he had reclaimed, 

"To comprehend a position of these States, it is desirable that the 
reader should look upon a map of this region. In a history of Asia 
Minor, I have given a more full account of these internal wars. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 115 

and of which he was, by appointment,*the governor. They 
accused hira of secret correspondence with Ptolemy, with 
whom Antiochus was at war. How dangerous it is to he 
more zealous, or more faithful, in any cause than one's fel- 
lows. Here is the secret of all the intrigues in political 
circles. Here is the weakness of all civil government, that 
the worthy and the faithful can not be endured by the evil 
and the indolent, and are therefore, like Daniel, cast into 
the lion's den. 

It is only in times of extreme poverty and danger, that 
good and true men can share in government, when there 
is nothing to share but suffering and danger. We have 
sometimes thought the government of these United States 
an exception ; but we are fast learning that men and gov- 
ernments are the same everywhere. When our government 
was struggling for existence, or contending with a mighty 
foe, good men endured the hardships, did the service and 
blessed the nation : but pow, in our pride and fullness, a 
good man may as well leap into the den of lions as to ask 
any favor of government ; even the few good men who have 
been placed in office, not by the government, but by the 
people of their own district, are treated with obloquy and 
contempt, while the corrupt, bloated, idle villains, who hold 
places and do nothing, or that which is worse than nothing, 
are favored and exalted to the skies. Alas ! the same 
spirit and the same results are but too manifest in our 
ecclesiastical organizations. The men of indolence and 
small capacity receive large support, and are held in favor, 
while the truly active, industrious and faithful are sure to 
be contemned and crowded out of place. 

Achaeus was, undoubtedly, innocent of all these charges 
when they were first preferred. His fidelity to the youth- 
ful king, whom he might have destroyed, ought to have 
been a sufficient pledge for his innocence. The evil 



116 THE KINGDOM OF BKASS. 

counsellors of AntiocTius prevailed, and Acliseus was des- 
tined to fall. Apprised of this decision, it is not surprising 
that the governor of Asia Minor and the saviour of the 
king of Syria should bo deeply sensible of this ingrati- 
tude, and should conclude that his former generosity had 
been bestowed upon an unworthy object. 

When Syria was in trouble, he saved her ; when she was 
in prosperity, she aimed to destroy him. Had this prince 
been kindly treated, be might and would have been of 
great use to Antiochus in his subsequent extremities ; but 
being unjustly accused, and at the point of ruin, he had 
but the alternative either to submit and die in his inno- 
cence, or resist, and thus commit the crime with wbicli he 
had been charged. As many others have been, he was 
driven to become an enemy ; he cbose to save himself, if 
possible, or perish in the attempt. He therefore assumed 
the crown, and caused himself to be proclaimed king of 
Asia Minor, B. C. 219. 

THE BYZANTINE WAR. 

The city on the beautiful island of Khodes, situated near 
the coast of Asia, was occupied by a free, independent peo- 
ple, mostly devoted to commerce ; they sought to maintain 
peace, while the nations around were engaged in war. 
Thus Rhodes became rich through the folly of her neigh- 
bors. The Rhodian commerce extended into the Black 
Sea. A great amount of trade was carried on with 
the Bythynians, whose country lay on the south of that 
sea, and in the north-west corner of Asia Minor. Both 
nations were enriched by this commerce, and sustained 
friendly relations with each other. 

Ever since the death of Lysimachus, in the war with Se- 
leucus and Ceraunus, Thrace had been dismembered : a large 
part of its territory had been merged in that of IMacedon. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 117 

Bjtliynia and some other districts formed independent 
governments; where now stands Constantinople, the proud 
capital of the Turks, then stood Byzantium. This city 
and a little territory in the vicinity, constituted a distinct 
kingdom. Being situated on the strait that connects the 
two seas, it commanded the pass; so that, without their 
permission, no vessel could enter the Black, then called 
Euxine Sea. 

The power of the Byzantines formed a check upon the 
trade of the neighboring nation, and about the time of 
Ptolemy Philopater, in Egypt, of Antiochus the Great, in 
Syria, and of Achaeus, in Asia Minor, that is about 219 B. 
C, the Byzantines thought to exercise this power which 
her position gave her. She permitted no vessel to pass or 
repass the Hellespont, but upon the payment of a heavy 
tribute into her treasury. This led to the Byzantine war. 
Ehodes and Bythynia refused to pay the unreasonable de- 
mand, declared that the seas were made of God, and were 
free ; and united in a war against the city of the straits. 
With an enemy on each side of her, cutting off her sup- 
plies, Byzantine found herself in the straits, indeed. Her 
rulers, therefore, found means to engage Aclueus on their 
side. Bythynia and Ehodes were perplexed to see the great- 
est captain of the age *join with their foes, against what 
they deemed to be their natural rights. The Bythynians, 
an agricultural people, were discouraged, and almost ready 
to abandon the effort ; but the Ehodians, a commercial peo- 
ple, immediately thought of finance, and determined to 
drive a bargain. A singular article of commerce was de- 
vised, and brought into market to change the fates of war. 
Ehodes had great trade with Egypt, and was on the best 
of terms with Philopater. In Alexandria lay Andromachus, 
the father of Achseus, a prisoner, taken by the father of the 
present Ptolemy in a war against the father of the present 



118 THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 

Antiochus. The Elioclians sagaciously saw the advantage, 
and represented to Ptolemy, that when Andromachus was 
taken prisoner he was fighting for Syria, but that now his 
son was the most dangerous foe of this country. Ptolemy 
was himself not at peace with Antiochus ; to restore Andro- 
machus and aid Achseus, was hut to aid himself against 
Syria. At the same time the friendship of Ehodes was of 
great value to him in his possession of Cyprus and Phoenicia. 
The advantage vras seen to be mutual. Ach^eus had more 
to fear from his cousin Antiochus, than from all other foes ; 
it was therefore his interest to be at peace and on good terms 
with Ptolemy ; but neither had seen these advantages until 
the commercial Khodians had pointed them out to the oppo- 
site parties. Achseus and Egypt were enemies merely from 
habit, not from any motives or policy. A bargain was con- 
cluded, and the two were ever after friends. The Ehodians 
receive the prisoner, Andromachus, and deliver him to his son 
Achseus, who deserts the Byzantines, aids the Bythynians and 
the Khodians, and compels the city of the Straits to permit 
the vessels to pass and repass undisturbed. Here again is 
another among the unnumbered examples of the power of 
foreign commerce to bless the nations, sJieath the sword and 
lull the elements of strife into peace and tranquility. * 

The war of Antiochus with Ptolemy, kept him employed 
until after the battle of Eaphia, and the year which followed, 
so that he was not prepared until the year had elapsed to 
disturb Achseus, who, during the time had fortified himsehf, 
and made preparations for the threatened invasion, which 
commenced in 216, B. C. Antiochus passed Mount Taurus, 
as his brother and father had done before him, to subdue 
Asia Minor. He concluded a treaty of peace with Attalus, 
king of Pergamos. Their forces uniting, were successful 
against Achaeus, and after various battles, compelled him to 
retreat into Sardis, where he shut himself up and was closely 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 119 

"besieged by the united forces, for the space of one year. 
Skirmishes, however, and small battles frequently occurred 
between the contending forces. At length the city was taken 
by a stratagem of Lygonus, an officer of Antiochus, and 
Achreus, with a number of soldiers, was closely surrounded 
in citadel or fortress, where they still resisted and refused to 
surrender. Ptolemy Philopater had made a treaty with 
Achgeus, and was now disturbed to see him so closely be- 
sieged. He therefore directed Sosibus, his prime minister, 
if possible to relieve him or effect his escape. In the court 
of Ptolemy was a man by the name of Bolus, a Cretan by 
birth, famous for his intriguing, cunning, craft and falsehood, 
'as indeed are all the Cretans. " The Cretans are always 
liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies.'^ — Titus i : 12. 

To Bolus, Sosibus applied, to know if he could not effect 
the deliverance of Achseus. The Cretan promised to do the 
required deed, and received ten talents in advance, as com- 
pensation, with promise of much more if successful. 

His plan was as follows : He had an intimate friend and 
near relation in the army of Antiochus, Cambylis, another 
lying Cretan, and captain of a band of Cretan guards, who 
at that time had command of a fort just back of the citadel, 
where Achaeus was confined. By the aid of this friend, he 
expected to let Achseus escape on that side. Bolus repaired 
to Sardis, found his friend Cambylis, and explained the 
nature of his mission. As they were working for pay, they 
were hired to deceive ; they little cared which party they 
deceived or which they betrayed, so that they were well paid 
for the fraud. The liars therefore proceeded to Antiochus, 
and explained the whole affair to him, who offered them a 
still greater reward to finish their work in a little different 
manner. Bolus then repaired to the citadel, where, by means 
of letters from Sosibus, and other friends of Achaeus, he 
gained complete and perfect confidence of the unfortunate 



120 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

prince, and led him out to the department of captain Cam- 
bylis. The confiding and deceived Achseus was delivered up 
to Antiochus, who ordered him to be immediately beheaded. 
Thus ended the war of AchaBus, and thus by the order of 
Antiochus, perished a great man to whom that monarch was 
in debt for his crown and kingdom. It is unsafe to do good 
to kings and prince, for they are ever desirous to wipe out 
the recollection of their obligation by the destruction of their 
benefactors. I can not agree with P^olin tliat this was a just 
fate of a rebel against his king — it was a rebellion of a king 
against his subject. Achseus was driven to take up arms in 
defense of himself and his rio^hts against an uno'rateful mon- 
arch. The day of righteous retribution will overtake him, as 
the reader will learn in the the ultimate fate of Antiochus. 



EGYPT — PTOLEMY EPIPHANES, B. C. 207. 

The great centers of attraction in the life of Epiphanes, 
were at Antioch, in Macedon and in Greece, while Egypt 
became secondary in importance. The record of a few events 
only comprises the history of Egypt during his reign. 

When Ptolemy Philopater died, worn out by excesses, his 
court was still filled with the corrupt creatures who had con- 
tinually surrounded him, ministered to his dissipation, and 
thus hastened him out of the world. How, in what state of 
mind, or in what manner he expired, is not known ; no one 
being present except his infamous concubine, Agathoclea, her 
brother and mother, who had entire possession of the king's 
person, and of the infant heir, whose mother had been pre- 
viously assassinated. They concealed for a time the fact of 
the king's death, until they could provide for themselves, by 
purloining the money, jewels and other effects in the palace. 
These they carried off and concealed, and then coming 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 121 

forward with the child, announced his majesty's death, and 
declared that the late royal father, in his expiring moments, 
had committed the darling son to the care of Agathoclea, 
during his minority. They implored the people to protect 
them against the prime minister, Hepolemus, who, they 
asserted, was preparing to destroy the child, and usurp the 
crown. They proposed to introduce witnesses to prove the 
treason. The object of all this false show with regard to 
the infant, and false accusation against the prime minister, 
was that they, by having the care of the young king might 
still sustain in power, and hold the reins of government 
during the minority of the prince, who was now but about 
five years of age. The people saw too plainly the artifice 
and iniquity of these corrupt creatures. Instead of destroy- 
ing the prime minister, as they had hoped, the king was 
taken out of their hands and put upon a throne, in the Hyp- 
podrome, and Agathocles, his sister and mother were brought 
before him ; then as if by his orders, were immediately put 
to death, and their bodies dragged through the streets, and 
exposed to every possible indignity ; all their friends were 
also executed. 

Upon this summary process Eollin remarks : " The usual 
and just end of those unworthy favorites, who abuse the con- 
fidence of their sovereign and oppress the people, but which 
does not effect the reformation of those who resemble them." 
I do not entirely agree with that author in this reflection. 
It is true that this is the usual fate of such persons. When 
multitudes have been long oppressed by wicked creatures in 
power, and when their wishes and rights are set at defiance, 
they feel deeply indignant, and if ever the power of retalia- 
1 tion returns into their hands, they over-act and hurl a terri- 
I ble revenge upon their unjust rulers. Such an exhibition of 
' revenge is seen in the first revolution of France, in the rising 
of the masses against their titled, corrupt and oppressive 
11 



122 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

nobility. Such by an inevitable law of human destiny, 
will ultimately be the fate of the rulers of our own land, 
should they, forgetting their high and responsible position, 
be induced by intrigue and management, to sell the liberties 
of this country, and set at defiance the will of the wliole peo- 
ple. Wo worth the day when a righteous retribution shall 
overtake an oligarchy of oppressive rulers. But I can not 
agree with Kollin, that this was a just fate of these corrupt 
courtesans. They had erred — who caused them to err. The 
king, theman clothed with power, sustained by that people who 
now revenge the victims of that same government, which, in 
this very act, they were attempting to repudiate. It still re- 
mains true, that the people are responsible for the form, and 
must suffer for the faults of their government. If the govern- 
ment of this land shall set at defiance the wish of the great 
mass of the people, and rob them of their liberty, it will be 
by the instrumentality of the people themselves, who, by wil- 
fully adhering to clans and parties, clothe corrupt men with 
power, and thus furnish the weapons of their own destruc- 
tion. What good could result by the barbarous execution 
of all their friends, or dragging their dead bodies through 
the streets ? Certainly none to the victims, and Eollin him- 
self admits that others like them are not reformed by such 
fate. Would it not have contributed more to the morality, 
peace and prosperity of all others, if these creatures had 
been silently removed from the possibility of doing further 
harm, and some check devised upon the then forming gov- 
ernment, to prevent the repetition of such flagrant abuses. 

A little specimen of woman's rights authority was ex- 
hibited about this time. Queen Arsinoe, it will be recol- 
lected, had some years before been assassinated, and this 
Agathoclea had occupied the king's bed in her place. The 
queen had been attended by ladies of honor who were greatly 
attached to that unfortunate princess, and who grieved for 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 123 

her cruel fate. About the time of the death of Agathocles 
and friends, Philammon, the murderer of Arsinoe, who had 
been absent to Cyrenia, returned to Alexandria. These 
ladies of honor having heard of his return, determined on 
revenge, and took advantage of the excited state of affairs. 
Collectively they repaired to the house wliere he was, and 
broke open the door, and with clubs and stones beat him to 
death. Was this just? What had he done? He had assas- 
sinated the queen, but it was by an order of the prime min- 
ister, at the command of the king. Had he not then just 
the same authority for his act that any sheriff has when he 
executes a convict either publicly or within the walls of a 
prison ? 

In either case it is murder by authority. Can one murder 
justify another? Indeed, every assassin who is hired to 
murder acts by the authority of some one or more, possessed 
of power. How great a power it requires to constitute 
righteous authority to take life, it is impossible to determine. 

The young king for the time being was committed to 
Sosibus, a son of the former minister of that name. At this 
time Philip was on the throne of Macedon, and Antiochus the 
Great still reigned in Syria. When these monarchs heard 
of the death of Philopater, and that he had left only an 
infant heir to the throne, they entered into an agreement for 
the ruin of the kingdom and a partition of the inheritance. 
In the language of Nicolas, the sick man was dead, and 
they were for attending the funeral. Philip was to have 
Cari, Lydia, Cyrenia and Egypt, while the king of Syria 
was to have Palestine, Celosyria and Cyprus, with Cilicia. 
Antiochus immediately took possession of Celosyria and 
Palestine, without opposition or hindrance ; but Philip was 
so occupied with war in other directions, that he never found 
time to take possession of his share of the spoils. 

New actors now appear on the stage — the fourth beast of 



124 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Daniel is rising out of the sea — Eome began to interest 
herself in the affairs of Greece and Macedon. Being an- 
noyed by some of the movements of Antiochus, they were 
determined not to permit Egypt to fall into his hands. 
They therefore spread the mantle of their protection over 
the infant king. iEmilianus, a Eoman consul, proceeded 
to Egypt, regulated affairs in the best possible manner, 
and appointed one Aristomenes prime minister, and to have 
the care and education of the king. This officer had long 
been in Egypt, had acquired great experience, and now 
administered the government with diligence, prudence and 
fidelity. 

Aristomenes immediately set about the recovery of Pal- 
estine and Celosyria. The J^tolians of Greece were, in 
these days, esteemed the best soldiers in the world. They 
were accustomed to sell their services to other nations. 
Scopas, one of their generals, not being appointed to the 
highest command, as he desired, had retired into Egypt 
and engaged in the service of its king. Him Aristomenes 
sent back to iEtolia, with a large sum of money, to raise 
an army, from whence he returned with six thousand brave 
soldiers. This was about the year 200 B. C. In the spring 
and summer, 199, Antiochus was employed in a war with 
Attains, in Asia Minor. The administration of Egypt took 
advantage of that fact, and sent Scopas, with his army, 
into Asia, who soon recovered Palestine and Celosyria, with 
their most important cities. He established a garrison in 
the citadel of Jerusalem, and, after plundering the prov- 
inces of a large amount of spoil, on the approach of winter 
returned to Alexandria. For this successful guerrilla expe- 
dition against this peaceful, unoffending, non-resisting peo- 
ple, he gained great credit and renown. The real cause of 
his success, was the absence of Antiochus. 

The next year, B. C. 198, the king of Syria marched in 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 126 

person to recover the lost provinces, and Scopas was again 
sent to resist him. The two armies met at Paneas, near 
the source of the river Jordan. Here a great battle was 
fought, and a great number of Egyptian soldiers slaught- 
ered. Scopas retreated with ten thousand soldiers, and shut 
himself closely up in Sidon. Antiochus surrounded him, 
both by sea and land, and cut off all his supplies. The 
government at Alexandria sent out three generals and an 
army to relieve him, and to break up the siege, which they 
were not able to accomplish. Being upon the point of 
starvation, Scopas finally, upon promise of having his life 
spared, surrendered, but with the loss of every thing else, 
and EoUin says he returned naked. 

After the siege of Sidon had closed, he marched along 
the coast and besieged Gaza. The inhabitants defended 
themselves obstinately and bravely for a time, which greatly 
exasperated him ; but ultimately having taken the city, he 
devoted the inhabitants to butchery and their treasury to 
plunder. Then securing all the passes, through which he 
supposed an Egyptian army might follow him, and, turn- 
ing backward, he recovered all Palestine and Celosyria. 

EoUin, upon the authority of Josephus, gives us the two 
following accounts : 

" The instant the Jews, who at that time had reason to 
be displeased with the Egyptians, knew that Antiochus was 
advancing toward their country, they came very zealously 
to meet him, and deliver up the keys of their cities ; and 
when he came to Jerusalem, the priests and elders came 
out to meet him, paid him all kinds of honor, and assisted 
him in driving out of the castle the soldiers which Scopas 
had left in it. In return for these services, Antiochus 
granted them a great many privileges, and enacted, by a 
particular decree, that no stranger should be allowed access 
to the inner part of the temple — a provision which seemed 



126 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

visibly to have been made on account of Philopater's 
attempt, who would have forced his way thither. Anti- 
ochus, in his Eastern expedition, had received so many 
services from the Jews of Babylon and Mesopotamia, and 
depended so much on their fidelity, that when a sedition 
broke out in Phrygia and Lydia, he sent two thousand 
Jewish families to quell it, and keep the country in peace, 
and granted them a variety of extraordinary favors." 

This account of the partiality of Antiochus for the Jews 
may be true ; but I doubt it much, as it rests entirely upon 
the authority of a Jewish writer exceedingly partial toward 
that peoj)le, very much given to writing long and incredi- 
ble stories about them. The Jews, so far from being q.uiet 
peace-makers, have, in every age, been famous for turbu- 
lence and rebellion. 

"And he shall give him the daughter of women, cor- 
rupting her, but she shall not stand on his side, neither 
shall she be for him." — Daniel. And Antiochus shall give 
his daughter to the king of Egypt, that she might treach- 
erously betray Egypt into his hands ; but she shall not 
stand on her father's side, neither be for him ; for she, as 
a true and faithful wife, shall adhere to the interest of her 
husband. Antiochus had not yet closed his wars in Asia 
Minor ; he decided, therefore, not to be again annoyed by 
Egypt. To quiet all apprehensions in that quarter, he pro- 
posed to the council in Egypt to give his own daughter, 
Cleopatra, in marriage to the youthful king, with Pales- 
tine and Celosyria for her dowry, with the condition that 
the parties should not come together for a number of years, 
on account of their ages, Epiphanes then being but eleven 
years old. This was a measure of policy. He hoped, in 
this manner, to keep Egypt quiet until he could extend his 
empire, and become sufficiently powerful to do as he pleased. 
He could then eitlier break off the engagement, or, if too 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 127 

late, through his daughter, Egypt might be betrayed and 
delivered into his hands. The administration at Alexan- 
dria did not discern his policy, but readily accepted the offer, 
and Cleopatra became the affianced bride of the youthful 
king of Egypt, and Antiochus was permitted to push for- 
ward his ambitious scheme undisturbed. He however never 
realized the advantage he expected to derive from the mar- 
riage of his daughter, for Cleopatra faithfully adhered to 
the interests of Egypt — administered the government, for 
a time, after her husband's decease, and transmitted the 
crown to her sons : thus fulfilling the words of the prophet. 

After the retreat from Sidon, Scopas was again placed at 
the head of the army of foreigners in Alexandria. Con- 
templating the distracted state of affairs in Egypt and the 
youthfulness of the monarch, he conceived the idea of rais- 
ing himself to the throne. He, with his iEtolian guards, 
conspired to assassinate the king, and usurp the reigns of 
government ; but before their plans could be matured, they 
came to the knowledge of their prime minister, by whom 
Scopas was arrested, and he with all his associates were pub- 
licly executed. A rumor had gone out that Epiphanes was 
actually slain. Antiochus, who was then near Byzantium, 
wheeled suddenly and marched to invade Egypt ; but, on 
arriving at Lydia, he learned his mistake. From this time 
Egypt ceased to confide in JEtolian soldiers, who had pre- 
viously been celebrated for their fidelity. 

In 187, Antiochus died, and was succeeded by his son, 
Philopater. On the same year, a son was bjrn to Ptolemy 
Epiphanes by his wife, Cleopatra, who afterward ascended 
the throne of his father with the name of Philometor. 
Egypt celebrated this birth with great splendor and rejoic- 
ings. In 184, which was the year after this event, Ptolemy 
Epiphanes assumed the reigns of government, and com- 
menced his course by pursuing most discreet and prudent 



128 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

measures, guided by the counsels of Aristomenes, who still 
held the office of prime minister ; he renewed the alliance 
with the Achseans and other nations, and gave promise of 
an able and efficient reign. 

The smiling tokens of future good were like the bright 
rays of the rising sun, soon, alas ! to pass behind a cloud 
and be succeeded by a day of storms. The wise and just 
counsels of the prime minister, which foreshadowded so much 
good, at length became irksome to the young ardent king, 
who now relapsed into the footsteps of his father, and devoted 
himself to sensuality. The flatteries of corrupt courtiers 
caused him to err in the injudicious appointments of officers 
of trust, and the disposal of the recesses of government. 
Aristomenes faithfully counseled, warned and urged, until 
good counsel became so obnoxious that the king delivered 
himself from its annoyance, by causing his faithful monitor 
to be poisoned, about the year 184. 

" Justice has fallen in the streets, and truth can not enter. 
He that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey." 

From that time Epiphanes treated his subjects ^\ith the 
greatest cruelty, and abandoned himself to every excess. 
The nobility and people, worn out by his tyranny and indis- 
creet conduct, began to plot for his removal, and had well 
nigh matured their measures when their intentions came to 
the knowledge of the king. He immediately appointed, for 
prime minister, Polycrates, a man of firmness and decision, 
by whose counsel he was enabled to quiet the rebellion. 
He persuaded the chief movers in the affair, under solemn 
promises of personal safety, to submit to him ; then breaking 
his engagement, after treating them with every imaginable 
cruelty, caused them to be put to death. This breach of 
faith and barbarity stirred up the second rebellion ; but by 
the skill and discretion of Polycrates, this was in like man- 
ner quelled. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 129 

Some time after this difficulty, Epiphanes conceived the 
idea of invading Seleucus, of Syria. His officers inquired 
of him, by what means he expected to raise the money for 
the expedition. He replied that his friends were his treasury. 
They well remembered his past cruelty, treachery and entire 
disregard for the rights of the people, and presumed that he 
intended rapaciously to rob and destroy them ; they there- 
fore determined on a third rebellion, to save themselves and 
deliver Egypt. This time the king was poisoned, and they 
were successful. Thus perished Ptolemy Epiphanes at 
twenty-nine years of age, having been nominally king 
twenty-four years. 

He died 108 B. C, leaving two sons and a daughter, Philo 
Meter, Phsycon and Cleopatra. 

GREAT EXPEDITION OF ANTIOCHUS IN THE EAST. 

The ancient Persian empire had been constituted by the 
union of several different States, among which were Media, 
Elam and Parthia. After the death of Alexander, Persia 
w^as again resolved into its original divisions, each separate 
State being subject to a governor, appomted by the kings of 
Syria. 

Parthia had revolted from the Syrians, and established an 
independent kingdon. Arsaces was their first king, and his 
son, of the same name, had succeeded to the throne. Taking 
advantage of the wars in the west, the Parthians soon after 
the suppression of Molo's revolt, had invaded Media, and 
annexed it to their own kingdom. 

Antiochus having regulated the affairs of his kingdom, 
and subdued Achseus, in Asia Minor, commenced a grand 
expedition to the east, B. C. 212, not only to recover Media,- 
but to invade other countries in that vicinity. Of the wealth 
and splendor of ancient Media, authors speak in extravagant 
terms. 



130 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

" This country,'^ says Polybius, " is tlie most powerful 
kingdom in all Asia, as well for its extent as for the number 
and strength of its armies, and the great quantity of horses 
it produces. Media furnished all Asia with these beasts, 
and its pastures are so good that the neighboring monarchs 
send their studs there. Ecbatana is its capital. The edi- 
fices of this city surpass in richness and magnificence all 
others in the world. The king's palace is seven hundred 
fathoms around. Though all the wood-work was of cedar 
and cypress, yet no joining, even in the least piece of timber 
was visible. The beams, the ceilings and columns, which 
sustain the porticoes and piazzas, were covered with silver or 
gold plate, and all the tiles were of silver. The greatest 
part of these materials had been carried ofi" by the Macedo- 
nians, under Alexander the Great, and the balance plun- 
dered by Antigonus and Seleucus Nicator. Nevertheless 
when Antiochus entered this kingdom, the temple of ^nea 
was still surrounded with gilted columns, and the soldiers 
found in it a great number of silver tiles, a few golden 
brick, and a great many of silver. All this was converted 
into specie, and stamped with the image of Antiochus, the 
whole amounting to four thousand talents, equal to three 
millions of dollars. 

Between Syria and the interior of Media, lies a barren, 
sandy desert. Antiochus having devoted the first year to 
the recovery of Media, and spent the winter at the temple 
of ^nea, marched with his army across this desert, to 
attack the Persians in their capital. Arsaces was not sur- 
prised that Antiochus advanced as far as the temple, but had 
not supposed that he would advance with his army across a 
barren, sandy desert, where no water could* be found upon 
the surface. It is related that the ancient Persians had con- 
structed acqueducts from Mount Taurus to a fountain in the 
midst of this desert underground, and that from this foun- 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. lEl 

tain other a^queducts conducted it all througli tlie desert ; 
and that there were secret wells communicating with these 
acqueducts. Arsaces had sent men to stop the fountains of 
water, and cause the army of Antiochus to perish in the 
desert, hut in vain ; for Antiochus anticipating this move- 
ment, sent a detachment of his soldiers, who succeeded in 
beating hack the Parthians and taking possession of the 
fountains. He soon after entered and subdued all Media, 
driving Arsaces entii-ely out of it. The remainder of the 
year was devoted to regulating the provinces, and preparing 
for future campaigns. 

The next year was occupied in the successful subjugation 
of all Parthia. Arsaces was forced to retire into Hyrcania, 
on the east of the Caspian sea, where he thought he should 
be undisturbed. But the following year, 209, Antiochus 
invaded Hyrcania, marched through the country and be- 
sieged Seringis, the capital. After making a breach in the 
w^alls he took the city by storm, when the inhabitants sur- 
rendered at discretion. Arsaces retired from Seringis in 
good order, re-collected his army, consisting of one hundred 
and twenty thousand foot and twenty thousand horsemen, 
and so successfully resisted and harrassed Antiochus, that at 
length terms of peace were considered, and finally, in 208 
agreed upon. By these terms Arsaces was to retain posses- 
sion of Parthia and Hyrcania, and was to assist Antiochus 
in the recovery of the other revolted provinces. East of 
Hyrcania was another small kingdom called Bactra. This 
country had been invaded and subdued by Alexander the 
Great, and had generally been considered a dependency of 
Syria, since that time. Some time pre\dous to these events, 
Theodotus, who had been appointed governor of Bactria, 
had revolted from Syria, and set up his own independent 
throne, which he had transmitted to his son, who was 
subsequently invaded and dethroned, by one Euthydemus, 



132 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

who was now king in liis place. Against Euthydemus 
Antiochus next turned his arms, in 207 B. C. After a 
long and fruitless effort to subdue Baxitriana, negotiations 
were opened. The agents of Euthydemus represented to 
Antiochus, that Bactra had revolted a long time ago ; that 
Syria had made no effort to recover possession; that the 
original rebels were not now in possession of it ; that the 
present occupant of the throne had acquired it by conquest, 
not from Syria, but from the rebels, and that the present 
king had never been subject to Antiochus, but was the right- 
ful sovereign of the country, and that, for these reasons, the 
present invasion was entirely unjust. It is scarcely possible 
that the justice of the plea had any effect on Antiochus, at a 
time when all claims of dominion rested upon a successful 
conquest. But the embassadors of Euthydemus presented 
a still more powerful argument. The Scythians, a war-like 
people, on the north, inhabiting the hills and the wild plains 
of Tartary, were watching the progress of this war, and 
rejoiced to see the parties weakening themselves. So soon 
as they should be sufficiently reduced this terrible people 
would fall upon Bactriana and possess it for themselves. 
Antiochus saw the force of this argument, and a peace was 
therefore concluded. All the elephants of Euthydemus were 
to be given to Antiochus, and a future marriage agreed upon 
for the son of the king of Bactriana, and the daughter of 
the king of Syria. Antiochus was at this time about thirty- 
one years of age, and had been married about fifteen years. 

He next crossed Mount Caucassus and entered India, with 
whose king he concluded a treaty, established his authority 
in Arachosia, Drangiana and Carmania, and spent the winter 
in that mild climate. 

In 205 he returned through Persia, Babylonia and Meso- 
potamia, and arrived at Antioch in safety, having spent 
seven years in this expedition, which had been crowned with 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 133 

SO great success. Success — that is, in destroying a great 
number of human beings, distracting and impoverishing 
the world, and depriving many small kingdoms of their 
right to govern themselves, that upon their ruins he might 
build one great empire and rule over many people, without 
regard to the happiness of society or the prosperity of the 
human race. Success in war signifies success in diminish- 
ing the happiness and increasing the sufferings of man- 
kind, as if the world had not sorrow enough without such 
aid. 

A little after this time, he received intelligence of i\0 
death of his old and familiar enemy, Philopater, the hero 
of Eaphia. 

The further history of Antiochus is so blended with those 
of Greece, Macedon and Rome, that it will be suspended 
until we can take a hasty survey of the state of affairs 
in those countries. 

MACEDON. 

Demetrius, king of Macedon, died B. C. 232, leaving a 
youthful son, Philip. Antigonus, a distant relation, was 
appointed guardian, and scon after married the widow, the 
mother of Philip. He immediately assumed the throne, 
which he held twelve years to the exclusion of the legiti- 
mate heir. He was often engaged in the affairs of the 
Greeks, which involved him in several wars. It is impos- 
sible to give any definite idea of these wars, without involv- 
ing the general history of Greece, which would be foreign 
to our purpose ; a few sketches only is all that I shall now 
give. 

GREECE. 

The larger and smaller peninsula south of Macedon, was 
the home of the once mighty people, the Greeks, whose 
valor in arms, whose wisdom in council, whose excellence 



134 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

in literature and philosophy, have been extolled by all suc- 
ceeding generations. Greece, from the earliest times, had 
been composed of several States, holding at one period some 
relation to each other, and at others at war with each other, 
and still at others united in war for the common defense. 
Their former government was so variable, that, to describe 
it, would require the entire history of that people. Mace- 
don, although in the immediate vicinity, and a colony 
originally planted by Greeks, was not considered any part 
of Greece. From the time of Philip, the father of Alex- 
^der the Great, if not earlier, the Macedonian monarchs 
had been desirous of bringing the States of Greece under 
their control, not only to gratify their ambition, but to sub- 
vert their republican forms of government ; because every 
independent State and free city in their vicinity rebuked 
royal tyranny. Antigonus had been very much exposed to 
the fatigues of war, which had brought on a consumption. 
He gained a victory over the Illyrians, and his excess of 
joy on that occasion caused the rupture of a blood vessel, 
in consequence of which he soon after died, B. C. 220. 

PHILIP, SON OF DEMETRIUS, B. C. 230 

Achaia, one of the Grecian States, lying in the north part 
of Morea, had, by internal strifes, become reduced to the 
lowest possible condition. At length the Achaean league 
was formed, by which these difficulties were healed, and the 
State revived and prosperity again began to smile upon 
them. Ultimately several of the other States joined the 
league, while others refused to do so. Wars were frequent 
between the confederate and non-confederate States. The 
exact cause of these wars it is difficult to determine, except 
in so far as a predisposition to quarrel, made any little dif- 
ficulty a sufficient pretext to gratify that disposition. The 
Achseans being somewhat in fear of their enemies, applied 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 135 

to the Macedonians for aid against the States that had not 
joined in tlie league. The Greeks ought to have under- 
stood that the invitation of a foreign king, though it might 
afford for the time some relief, would, in the end, entirely 
subvert all Greece, and place them under foreign masters. 
The first interference seems to have been by Antigonus, 
about the year 225 B. C. After his death, the same invi- 
tation was sent to Philip, which he accepted, and which 
resulted in the war of the league. The ^tolians were the 
instigators and chief promoters of this war. Of this peo- 
ple, EoUin thus speaks: 

" The ^tolians, particularly in the time we are now 
speaking of, were becoming a very powerful people in 
Greece. Originally their territories extended from the 
river x\chelous to the straits of the Gulf of Corinth, and 
the country of the Locrians, surnamed Ozolse. But, in pro- 
cess of time, they had possessed themselves of several cities 
in Acamania, Thessaly, and other neighboring countries. 
They had much the same life upon land that pirates do at 
sea, that is, they were perpetually engaged in plunder and 
rapine. Wholly bent on lucre, they did not consider any 
gain as infamous, and were entire strangers to the laws 
of peace or war. They were thoroughly inured to toil, 
and intrepid in battle." 

In this war, each party alternately invaded each coun- 
try, burned their cities, robbed their treasures, murdered 
their inhabitants and desecrated their temples, took and 
lost many important posts, until wearied with their efforts 
they stopped to take breath, after having consumed five 
years in the war to no purpose, and aiming at the attain- 
ment gf no definite object. 

All this while, the inhabitants of Ehodes and Chios were 
usino; their kindest influences and their utmost endeavors 
to persuade these parties to sheath the sword, and be at 



!;>(> TllV: K INT, POM OF BVvASS. 

pojuv. About tills (iiuo was fouiiht lluH'nnious Imtllo of 
Unpliin. InMNYotMi l^olomy Pliilopntor ami AnlitH'lnis. Han- 
nibal, tho C'artliai;HMiian i.>iMUMal. having- frossoil (bo Alps, 
(losivndocl upo!) Ilalv. Al lonj;th Plulii> I'aUod a council, 
to (loliborati* upon tonus oi' \)Ci\('o. Tho ambassadors of 
Ivlunlos aud Chios \\\>n^ ur!:.iuij; this uu^isuro. aud tlio .Eto 
lians siuoiM'olv dosiri>d poai'i^ Whilo Thilip protossod tbo 
sauio dosiro. bo socrotlv iucliuc\l to ooutiuuo tbo war until 
all (Jroooo sbould bavo boi'uuio so iiupovorisbod tbat bo 
could outirolv subject tboiu io bis cwii will How uuich 
it is to bo rooTottod tbat rulers aud uu>uarcbs, in both 
aucicut ami uunloru liuu\^. arc so slow to loaru tboir truo 
policy aud tboir truo iulon\sl. Instead ot" (^xbausiiiio* tboir 
treasury iu bloody cauipaii;'us looxttMul tboir douiiuiou ovoi* 
fallen territory, after iirst ruiuiuiv it so as io render iti 
scarcely worth poss(\^siug. it' thev should direct their atten- 
tion and their ambition to developiui;' tbo resourci^s alreaily 
possosstnl, to Sivuro tbo poact\ prosperity, bappiiu^ss and 
intellio-euco ot* tbo [ioo}de, they would receiy^* ^-rcMtor rovi^ 
uiu' aud greater honor, and rule oyer nun-o sid>jects and 
more wi^alth, though U]>ou less acres ol' ground, lie who, 
within a State, bv poacot'ul uu^ius causes two bushels of 
corn to grow, instead ot one — two spears ot* grass to spring, 
instead of om^ — two iamilies to timl omplovnuMit niui gain 
subsistence, instead of one — two yards of cloth to bo manu- 
fa^'tured, instead oi' one — has done more tor the woaltb, 
honor ami dol'iuiso of his State, than if, by loroign conquest, 
bo bad tbribbloil its territory. Had this sound political 
maxim been roccMNcnl aud followed, seas o( blood that bavo 
been sIkhI nught bayo boon saved. 

AVhilo the council above rel'orred to was in session, a 
courier tVom Abuvtlonia arrivcil ami ])buHHl a letter iu tbo 
bauds o( riiilip, int'ormiug him that the Uonuins bad lost 
u groat battlo in Tuscany, and tbat Hannibal was master 



THE KINGDOM OK iiUAHS. 137 

of all tho opjri country of itaJy. Philip liand^id thrj hiUiT 
to hJH fricrifl J)<;in('triiJH, with a ntrict charg*; to cornrriuni- 
cato itH foritr-ntn to no ()\i<\ 'llic iinportanor- of tliis intol- 
]igf;nco may not at firnt ])(t apparent to tlio reader. lUmid 
and Cartliaf^e were tli(3 two great powern of tho W(ist. 
They liad W'li some tirrif. (th^a^cA in a war witli each 
othf;r; yet this i'm-X seeniH to liave niXnutt/td no great attf^n- 
tion in the Kant until this time. It now heeame apparent 
that one or tlu; other of" lliene great nations must hi over- 
come, and tlie fall of one and the triumph of the other, 
whichever it might Ixj, would materially affect the bal- 
ance of power throughout the world. Demetrius saw, at a 
glance, the importance of the recent int(illigence, although 
he knew not how to make a proper use of it. 

The narrow Adriatic sea above, separated the territory 
of Jtome from C/reece, Epirus and Macfjdon. Demetrius 
believed that Jtome was fitted to fall and beciome a prey 
to foreigne*rH. Should it be given to Carthage, or should 
Maaidon possess a share of it? He irnmediat^jly drew 
Philip aside from the council, inflamed his youthful ambi- 
tion with Bcliemes of conquest, and urge'd him to strike for 
glory and universal fame. He urged the king immediately 
to settle all difficulties with Greec/j, unite his forces with 
those of Hannibal, and invade Pome. He represented to 
him that Orr-ejce might be easily overcome, if any of the 
States did not voluntarily submit after he should have 
extended his empire in the West and gained invincible 
power. 

iX-metriuH had personal ends to gain in this advice. He 
had formerly been king in the little island called Pharos, 
in the north-east part of the Adriatic sea. For some of his 
piratical doings, the Ponjan;s had invaded and taken from 
him his island and city, from which he had fled a fugitive, 
and entered the service of Philip. A desire for revenge, 
12 



138 THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 

though often buried in the rubbish of other cares, seldom 
dies ; and will often break forth again when a fitting oppor- 
tunity presents, with increased intensity, though with more 
cool, deliberate purpose. Nothing could be more gratify- 
ing to the feelings of Demetrius, than to see the Macedo- 
nian arms invading and devastating territories of Kome. 
He might even hope to be again king of Pharos. 

Philip was still young, yet he had acquired some expe- 
rience. He had been deceived and betrayed by counsellors, 
whom he punished according to the merit of their treason ; 
but he had not yet learned to suspect the motive of his 
present counsellor. He saw nothing in the advice of De- 
metrius, but devotedness to his own personal aggrandize- 
ment. He eagerly caught at the bait, and determined on 
war with Kome. That was an unfortunate decision ; from 
that time his fortunes paled, and a dark cloud cast its 
shadow over the Macedonian empire, portentous of the 
coming storm that should ultimately sweep away the last 
remains of the Kingdom of Brass. 

A council of negotiation w^as appointed at Naupatum, 
composed of delegates from the different States of Greece 
and Macedon, which resulted in a treaty of peace, which 
was to be perpetual; but which, nevertheless, continued 
but a few years. 

Philip next sent ambassadors to Hannibal to propose a 
treaty of mutual cooperation against Pi-ome. These ambas- 
sadors, by accident, fell into the hands of the Eomans. 
With great adroitness and deceit, they represented that 
they had been sent by Philip to conclude a treaty of peace 
with the Romans. Their statement was believed, and an 
escort was given to conduct them safely to Rome. They, 
however, made their escape and fled to the camp of Han- 
nibal. A treaty was concluded and reduced to writing, in 
which it was stipulated that the Roman possessions should 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 139 

be divided between them. The ambassadors, with others 
from Hamiibal, now attempted their return to Philip, but 
were again intercepted and carried to Eome, where the lie 
would not a second time answer their purpose. The Car- 
thaginians were recognized by their personal appearance, 
dress and language ; and upon the ambassadors were found 
the written treaty, and the letters of Hannibal to the king 
of Macedon. Philip, not discouraged by this event, sent a 
second embassy, which succeeded in arriving at the camp 
of Hannibal, and returning in safety with the treaty to 
Macedon. Thus ended the year 216 B. C. 

The winter was devoted to thoughts, plans, and dreams 
of future conquest. The Illyrians built one hundred ves- 
sels for Philip. With these, after spending some time in 
able discipline, he put to sea and first seized upon the city 
Oricum, situated upon the western coast of Epirus. Vale- 
rius, a commander with a fleet, lay off at no great distance, 
reached anchor and put his ships in readiness for sailing. 
Philip having left a small garrison at Oricum, proceeded to 
Apollonia, and laid siege to that city. The next day, Vale- 
rius arrived and retook Oricum, and captured the garrison 
left by Philip. He then sent Nevius, an able and expe- 
rienced officer, with a large reinforcement, to the relief of 
Apollonia. Nevius landed at the mouth of the river Taus, 
marched through a by-way, and unperceived by the enemy, 
in the night entered the city of Apollonia. The Macedo- 
nians supposing themselves perfectly secure, because an 
arm of the sea lay between them and the enemy, had 
neglected the usual precautions, and established no guards. 
Nevius learning this fact, marched again out of Apollonia, 
and entered the camp of the Macedonians, where he found 
the soldiers asleep. The work of death began ; the cries 
of the wounded and dying fell upon the ear of their sleep- 
ing comrades, and aroused them from their dreams of 



140 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

conquest and glory to the stern reality — the enemy is in 
their tents. Arising in wild consternation, they seek safety 
by flight. Philip himself but half awake, and almost naked, 
with diflSculty escaped to his ships, his soldiers pressing hard 
after him. Three thousand of them were either killed or 
taken prisoners. 

Valerius soon received intelligence of this affair, and sent 
forward his navy to block up the mouth of the river, and 
thus prevent the escape of the enemy. Philip found it 
impossible to proceed furtber, or to regain the sea. He 
therefore set fire to his vessels, and with the shattered 
remains of his army returned by land to Macedon. Thus 
ended the great scheme of universal conquest. 

The castle in the air has fallen. The beautiful cloud 
whose majestic cap towered high to heaven, has vanished, 
and has left nothing but an oppressive sense of vacancy. 
Philip's grand schemes of the conquest of Eome and of 
immortal fame, have disappeared forever ; yet he has com- 
menced a war whicb must result in the destruction of the 
third and the ascendancy of the fourth beast. 

Previous to the battle of Apollonia, Philip had exhibited 
talent superior to bis years. He bad sustained a reputa- 
tion for energy, discretion, and sound judgment. Subse- 
quent to that event, having altogether abandoned the 
idea of winning a great name, he became insensible to all 
moral worth and committed the basest of crimes. 

The treacherous, deceitful character of the leopard which 
had destroyed its feeder, was fully developed ; yet, at times, 
be displayed some courage and won a few battles. He cast 
bis eyes upon the rich fields of Messenia, and desired to 
possess them. This was one of the States of the Achgean 
league, whicb had assisted him in all the Grecian war, and 
was a party to the treaty of peace concluded just before 
engaging in the war with the Romans. Philip landed an 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 141 

army in Messenia, and by pretensions of friends, endeavored 
to persuade them to deliver up to him their fortresses, that 
he might protect them against the Eomans. Suspecting his 
purpose, and being themselves at peace with Rome, they 
declined receiving his protection. He then threw off his 
mask, declared himself their enemy, and ravaged their 
country, committing acts of rapine and cruelty. He then 
retu'ed with his booty into Macedon. Aratus, the chief 
ruler of Achaia, and head and originator of the league, had 
long been the friend of Philip, and by his counsels and aid, 
had secured that monarch most of his success. Owing to 
the indiscretion and injustice of Philip, he had withdrawn 
from his court. Aratus was as far a just and upright prince 
as in those tempestuous times a man could safely be. He 
remonstrated with Philip against this cruelty and injustice, 
and breach of faith with the people of Messenia. 

The court of Philip was filled with corrupt advisers, who 
persuaded him that the glory of a king consisted in causing 
his subjects to yield a blind obedience to his will, whatever 
that will might be. He listened to their bad counsel, and 
sought by every possible means to distress his subjects, and 
crush them beneath his feet. One of the growing signs of 
despotism in a government, and the corruption of statesmen, 
is the desire to transfer appointing power from the people 
to the executive, whereby he may reward his partisans for 
favoring his infamous and oppressive measures, courtiers 
who advocate his policy with the desire of obtaining by favor 
posts of honor, profit and trust, to which they could never 
expect to rise by merit. Such counselors should ever be 
frowned down by upright rulers, and distrusted by an up- 
right people. 

Philip was not insensible to shame, and as he possessed no 
virtue in himself, he could endure none in others. He 
therefore employed one of his creatures, who, under the 



142 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

disguise of great friendship, found means to give slow poison 
to Aratus the senior. Of this, after some time, he died, a 
lingering and distressing death, greatly beloved by his peo- 
ple. With the wife of his son, Aratus junior, who was one 
of his best generals, Philip had been criminally intimate. 
He administered to the unsuspecting husband a poison which 
destroyed his senses, and after a time of raving madness, 
terminated his life. 

Illyricum, lying north of Epirus, was a distinct State of 
itself, and not a part of the Macedonian kingdom. At this 
time it was in friendly alliance with Rome. It does not 
appear that either the Romans or the Illyrians had actually 
and formally declared war, but as Philip had previously 
commenced upon Rome, she had defended herself and re- 
pulsed him. In 213 B. C, Philip suddenly invaded Illyria, 
and captured the city of Lissus. 

Rome now felt it her duty to interfere in the affairs of 
Greece, to defend her allies, and to check the barbarity of 
Philip. M. Valerius Levinus, a Roman praetor, was sent out 
in 211, to look after these interests. He succeeded in de- 
taching the restless war-like JEtolians from their alliance 
with Philip, and attaching them to the Roman cause. Some 
other States were induced to follow their example, and the 
old war of the league was revived, with very nearly the 
same division of parties as on the former occasion. 

jEtolia had always been the leading State on one side and 
Achaia on tlie other, in these wars. Philip was at Pella, 
his capital, where Achaia and Acarnania sent embassadors to 
inform him that a treaty had been formed by jEtolia and 
others with the Romans. A ludicrous little affair occurred 
about this time. The iEtolians prepared to invade the Acar- 
nanians, their near neighbors, who had closely adhered to 
the interests of Philip, and were therefore fit subjects for 
the spoils of the iEtolians. ^ 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 143 

The Acarnanians being at a distance from Philip, de- 
spaired of receiving aid in time to save themselves ; they did 
not suppose they could alone resist the war-like iEtolians, 
and therefore prepared for death. They sent their wives, 
children and old men, with their treasures, to Epirus for 
safety, and resolved to die sword in hand ; they made ar- 
rangements for their funeral : the Epirots were to come and 
bury them after the battle. A monument was to be erected 
over their bodies, all of which were to be laid in one grave. 
The inscription upon the monument was prepared in these 
words : 

" Here lie the Acarnanians, who died fighting for their 
country, against the violence and injustice of the ^Etolians." 

They then set out to meet the enemy upon the border of 
their country. Despair lent them courage and gave them a 
terrific appearance. The ^Etolians became alarmed and 
retired, and no battle whatever was fought. The Acarna- 
nians therefore returned home to attend their own funeral. 

B. C. 210, Levinus besieged and captured Antagras of 
Phocis, in Achaia, and gave the city to the iEtolians, keep- 
ing the plunder for himself. The reader will perhaps in- 
quire why, and on what account this city should be plundered 
and made subject to a foreign State, and what was the war 
itself about. Similar questions have often arisen in relation 
to the events of this period. We can sometimes discover 
the real or pretended cause of these wars, but more fre- 
quently that cause is so obscure, so indefinite, that it is not 
capable of being made manifest. The general fa<it was, that 
nations engaged in war, as school-boys play ball, just to see 
which can beat, and to plunder and destroy each other. 

Let it be remembered that this is a part of the kingdom 
of the leopard. Why should the leopard treacherously and 
from his ambush, spring upon and devour the kid ? Simply 
because he is hungry and is fond of blood. The different 



144 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

States of Greece often took sides from mere caprice or fancy, 
sometimes for the convenience of easy plunder, and some- 
times through fear of a superior power. It was rarely that 
the sides were chosen with any reference to equity or justice. 
Although war was not formally declared, Achaia was friendly 
to Philip, and iEtolia was not. This, in that day, was a suf- 
ficient reason for invading each others' territory, plundering 
cities, and butchering their inhabitants. Had these calamities 
fallen upon Philip, instead of his peaceful allies, there would 
have been a greater semblance of justice. About this time 
Levinus being elected to the office of consul, was re-called to 
Eome, and Sulpitius was sent a praetor in his place. Attalus, 
king of Pergamos, Pleuratus, king of Byzantium, and Scer- 
diledes, king of Illyria, joined the confederacy of the Eomans 
and the iEtolians, and aided in the war. Both parties now 
sought to induce the Spartans to join their side.'*' Sparta 
was at this time divided into two factions, the one decidedly 
in favor of the interests of king Philip, and the other equally 
partial to those of the jEtolians. 

In the midst of these divisions, and favored by their ani- 
mosity, one Machanides had subverted their government, 
and made himself tyrant over them. The result of nego- 
tiations was, that Sparta once more cast her lot with ^tolia. 
This was just what Machanides wanted. He would thus 
have the opportunity of plundering other Grecian States, 
under the protection of the ^tolians and the Eomans ; and 
what was to him still more desirable, it would furnish him a 
pretext to plunder and exterminate, by cruel excesses and 



*■' Lacedaemonia, sometimes called Laconia, was the most south-eastern 
part of Greece, lying in the Morea, anciently called the Pelleponesus ; 
Sparta was its most important and capital city. The entire people are 
sometimes called Spartans, sometimes Laconians, and sometimes Lacedae- 
monians. In the preceding war of the league, Lacedaemonia had united 
with the ^tolians against the Achaians and Philip. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 145 

bamsliment, that portion of tlie citizens who were opposed to 
his tyranny, and who were generally opposed to renewing 
the war with Philip. Attains and Pleuratus had joined the 
confederacy with other and more worthy motives. By look- 
ing at the map it will be seen that these territories were con- 
tiguous to those of Philip. They ruled over commercial 
nations, whose interests were peace. But Philip was not a 
man of peace. If he was not involved in war with Greece 
or Kome, or both, they feared he would be annoying them, 
as he often had done. It was natural, therefore, that they 
should desire to keep so ambitious and treacherous a prince 
occupied. It must be recollected that Pergamos, and indeed 
nearly all the States of Asia Minor, were originally Greek 
colonies, spoke the Greek language, and sympathized with 
the interests of Greece. 

Bome was at this time a republic ; she sympathized with 
her republican neighbors, and desired them to be secure from 
the grasping ambition of the king of Macedon. She also 
desired to chreck the pride of Philip, who, without cause, had 
dared to make war upon her. It does not appear that Kome 
had, at that time, any idea whatever, of conquering or sub- 
jecting either Macedon or Greece, or any other part of the 
east, to her authority. She only desired her own safety, 
and the peace and independence of Greece. Eome was like- 
wise still engaged in her war with the Carthaginians, and 
Hannibal was yet in the field. For these reasons, although 
engaged in the affairs of Greece, she only gave a limited 
and indirect attention to them for a number of years. B. 
C. 208, Sulpitius and Attains operated chiefly by their fleets, 
while the Spartans and the ^Etolians were more efficient on 
land. 

Scopas had retired to Egypt, and Pyrrhus commanded 
the ^tolians. Philip hastened to the relief of his allies. 
His enemies met him at Lamia, where he defeated them in 
13 



146 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

two battles, and sliut them up closely in the city. He then 
retired ^^'ith his army to Phalaria. Shall the sword devour 
forever — shall all mankind be interrupted in their regular 
and useful pursuits, by the folly of a few quarrelsome neigh- 
bors ? Ptolemy, king of Egypt, the inhabitants of Athens, 
of Rhodes and of Chios, sent embassadors to urge Philip and 
the States of Greece to be at peace. Ptolemy was so steeped 
in debauchery that he could have had but little policy what- 
ever in this movement ; yet sober statesmen and nobles 
there were in Egypt, whose far-reaching political sagacity 
discerned that if Greece should become subject to Philip, he 
would become a powerful monarch, and too near a neighbor. 
Egypt possessed Crete, Cyprus and Cilicia ; they might be 
the next prize for the ruthless king of Macedon. Egypt 
therefore desired the independence of Greece. Rhodes and 
Chios were isles of the sea, and independent States. Their 
commerce extended over all waters ; this commerce could 
not but be interrupted and suffer, during the war in their 
immediate vicinity. 

After various negotiations without success, and a number 
of battles with no definite result except a wanton destruc- 
tion of life, in 104 B. C, a peace was concluded between 
Philip, the Romans, and the several Grecian States. It waa, 
however, of short continuance. 

INVASION OF SIOS, RHODES, PERGAMOS AND ABYDOS, BY PmLIP, B. C. 

203 TO 201. 

Bythynia was a small kingdom, situated directly south of 
the Black Sea, and east of Constantinople. It was a part 
of the once kingdom of Thrace, which had long before been 
dismembered. At the time of which we are speaking, 
Prusias was governor of Bythynia. He was the son-in-law 
of Philip of Macedon. Philip, like any other pirate, sought 
to rob somebody, and Prusias was disposed to point out the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 147 

game. Sios was a small city in Bythynia, with which the 
Rhodiaiis and others had some trade. Prusias. pretending 
to have received some insult from the people of Sios, de- 
livered it up to the destroyer. Philip captured the town by 
force of arms, plundered its treasures, and laid it in the dust. 
He put part of the inhabitants to death by the most cruel 
torture, and sold the others, men, women and children, into 
slavery worse than death. This uncalled for cruelty, as well 
it might, provoked the displeasure of iho PJiodians, as well 
as the JEtolians. There seems to be no apology or extenu- 
ating circumstance on record for this wanton barbarity, or 
even for invading this little city. Philip next turned his 
piratical navy against Ehodes. He fought one battle upon 
the water, in which he was somewhat successful, but did not 
take the city. He next invaded Pergamos, whose king was 
Attains. He besieged the city, but was unable to capture 
it. Enraged at his failure, he attacked the temples of the 
country, demolished them and their idols, and carried off all 
their valuable contents. In 202, Attains joined his forces 
with those of Ehodes, against their common invader, and a 
battle was fought off Chios, (now Scio), in which Philip was 
terribly beaten. He lost in killed three thousand Macedo- 
nians, and six thousand allies ; and two thousand Mace- 
donians and seven hundred Egyptian allies were taken 
prisoners. Although he had sustained great loss, and was 
forced to abandon the war upon these two powers, he still 
pushed on for conquest and plunder. He invaded Thrace 
and the Chersonesus, where, although he met with some 
energetic resistance, several cities submitted to him. 

THE FALL OF ABYDOS. 

Directly across the Strait from Sestus, and near where the 
Dardanelles empties into the Archipelago, on the Asiatic 
side, stood the city of Abydos. Its site was a rising ground 



148 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

with a gradual descent in every direction. Crowning such 
an eminence, and overlooking the narrow straits that con?- 
nect the sea, with the outlet of all the upper waters, Abydos 
must have presented an imposing appearance. It was a city 
of some military, as well as commercial importance. 

The rapacious Philip could not endure its prosperity, nor 
abstain from coveting its treasures. He therefore invaded 
its territory, and commenced a regular siege upon the city. 
He was greatly exasperated at the obstinate resistance with 
which the Abydenians met and often repulsed him from 
their walls. No art of war then known, was omitted either 
in the attack or defense. The conflict often rose into a fury 
resembling the death-struggle of savage beasts. Philip, 
landing great machines, brought them against the walls of 
the city, on the side toward the water. The Abydenians by 
their ballistae, hurled masses of rock against them, and 
dashed them to pieces, or succeeded in setting them on fire. 
Even the ships were exposed to be burned, and the besiegers 
were often in danger of perishing. On the land side, though 
also terribly resisted, the invaders carried mines under the 
outer walls, and were sapping their foundations ; they even 
extended their trench under the second wall. Perceiving 
the progress that the enemy had made, and the prospect of 
being speedily assaulted, the Abydenians sent to Philip, and 
proposed to surrender upon terms one would think quite 
reasonable enough to have been accepted : they only asked 
that the soldiers of Khodes and Ephesus, who had come to 
their assistance, should be permitted to return to their homes 
unmolested, and that the citizens of Abydos should be per- 
mitted to retire into other countries, wherever they pleased, 
with the clothing they then had on, leaving for the Macedo- 
nians all ttie rich treasures which their commerce had accu- 
mulated. 

Philip replied that they had only to surrender at discretion 



THE KINGDOM OF BKASS. 149 

or continue to fight. The citizens in transports of depair, 
assembled to consider what was to be done, inferring 
that as these humiliating terms were rejected, some worse 
fate was in reserve for them, such as befel the unfortunate 
people of Sios, who were all massacred or sold into slavery. 
In this council, the frantic people came to one very wise and 
just, and several very rash, foolish and wicked resolutions. 
They first gave freedom to all their slaves, the better to ani- 
mate them to defend the city. They then shut up all the 
women and children in the temple ; brought all their gold 
and silver into the public square, and sent their other valua- 
able efiects into the vessels of their allies. Next the wise 
old men, too feeble to fight, yet possessed of sufficient energy 
to do the work assigned them, were called in and required 
to take an oath, that the instant the enemy should enter the 
inner wall, they would kill the women and children, set fire 
to the galleys, burn the goods and throw the gold and silver 
into the sea. The priests were then called in, before whom 
the soldiers took a solemn oath either to conquer or die 
sword in hand. They required priests and priestesses to pro- 
nounce the most solemn curses upon any one of them who 
should not keep this most unwise and rash obligation. 

Soon the undermining of the invaders caused the inner 
wall to tumble to the earth, and exposed the city to the 
assault of the enemy. The Abydenians were shortly in the 
trench, where, with the ferocity of despair, they fought, and 
for a time held their ground, dealing out death on every 
hand, although fresh supplies of Macedonians were brought 
to stand upon their dead comrades. Night put an end to 
the bloody conflict, leaving it quite doubtful who had gained 
the victory. The breach was covered with the dead bodies 
of the Abydenians, and of those not slain, so overcome with 
fatigue and covered with wounds, that they could scarcely 



150 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

stand. Now the dreadful oath to kill the women and 
children, began to stare in the face those who were to do the 
deed. Four of the principal citizens, who could not endure 
to have their wives slain, determined to send to the camp of 
Philip, the priests in their sacred robes of office, to implore 
mercy, which was accordingly done next morning at day- 
break, and the gates of the city were opened to the enemy. 
The surviving soldiers vented their curses against the men 
who surrendered the city and saved the lives of those who 
had been devoted to death, alleging that it was awful in- 
justice to those who had perished believing that the oath 
would be kept. 

Philip, without further opposition, marched into Abydos, 
and seized all the treasures, collected as they were, in one 
place. Now a new and fearful tragedy was being enacted 
before the eyes of the Macedonians. Wounds, rage and 
disappointment had rendered the Abydenians frantic, if not 
insane. Some were smothering their wives and children, 
others were stabbing them w^ith their own hands. Some 
were trying to strangle them, and still others were precip- 
itating them from the tops of houses. Thus death presented 
itself in all variety of violent forms. 

Philip, old blood-thirsty warrior as he was, became terri- 
fied at these sights. He ordered his soldiers to stop plun- 
dering and try to save the people from suicide. He published 
that three days of safety should be granted to them if they 
would not kill themselves. But the appeal was in vain. 
Their fellows and the husbands of these women had died in 
their defense, and they thought it dishonorable to survive 
them. Not a life was saved, except those whose hands were 
tied to prevent them from committing suicide. 

Eome heard of the piratical war with Philip, and sent 
embassadors to protest against his course. These embassa^ 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 151 

dors arrived at the camp of Philip, while the siege of Abydos 
was in progress. They protested, and threatened in the name 
of Kome, but to no purpose. 

Philip answered them roughly, and in effect bade Home 
attend to her own affairs and let him alone. The Komans 
soon declared war against him, defeated him in many an 
engagement, stripped him of all his territories acquired by 
conquest, brought him to his senses, and made him a de- 
pendant upon their will for the rest of his life. But how 
could his humiliation bring any compensation to the butch- 
ered citizens of Abydos. Alas ! this world's justice comes 
too late to be of any value. Violence triumphs and her vic- 
tims perish. Little more of interest is known of Philip, 
except his domestic calamities, by which he was induced to 
slay his innocent son, Demetrius, and was succeeded upon 
the throne, by Persius, an illegitimate son, who was subse- 
quently captured by the Romans, and all IMacedonia absorbed 
into their empire. 



ANTIOCHUS AND THE ROMANS. 

The war of Eome with Carthage had been concluded, and 
Hannibal had retired for a time from the field of Mars. 
The Eomans had overcome Philip and subdued Macedon, 
and thus, as they supposed, secured freedom to the Greeks 
of Europe. Antiochus having returned from his great eastern 
expedition, in which he was crowned with unparalleled s-uc- 
cess, against the feeble, effeminate Asiatics, now supposed 
himself invincible against any foe. Like many others, even 
in our time, he entertained a contempt for western people. 
The East seldom learns to appreciate the West. The East is 
the land of luxury, of pompous ceremony and display ; 
the West is the land of strength, of action and of successful 
enterprise. Antiochus now entertained an idea of subjugating 



152 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

all x\sia Minor to liis control ; after which he contemplated 
an advance into Europe, there to contend with Rome for 
,the empire of the world. These lofty schemes he intended 
to conceal in his own hreast until he found means to exe- 
cute them. But the keen sagacity of the Romans detected 
his plans ; they were prepared to meet him. Rome wisely 
determined, as they had freed the cities of the Greeks from 
foreign masters, they would not permit those of Asia Minor 
to he suhdued. 

In 196 B. C, the movements of Antiochus indicated an 
intention to invade Asia Minor. Smyrna, Lampsacus, and 
other cities along the sea coast, becoming alarmed, applied 
to the Romans for protection. It was manifestly detrimental 
to the interests of Rome, that Antiochus should establish 
himself along that coast, where he might annoy her allies, 
and at his pleasure, suddenly invade Europe. Rome there- 
fore lent a willing ear to the call, and sent embassadors to 
Antiochus, who, before their arrival, had commenced the 
siege of those cities, and had crossed the straits into Europe, 
and made himself master of the Chersonesus of Thrace. 
Here he commenced building the city of Lysimachia, intend- 
ing to construct a new kingdom in Thrace, for his son 
Seleucus, with this city for the capital. While thus occu- 
pied, the Roman embassadors arrived (one of them was L. 
Cornelius), at the camp. After the ceremonies of civility, 
they proceeded to business. The interest of the Romans 
was at that time to diminish as far as possible the power of 
Antiochus, who might otherwise be dangerous to Rome. Let 
it be remembered that some of the cities and territories of 
southern Asia Minor had belonged to the Ptolemies, but had 
been taken from that crown by Antiochus, of which an 
account is given in the history of Ptolemy Epiphanes. The 
cities Avhich, at this time, were being besieged, had been 
subdued by Philip, and again restored to liberty by the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 153 

Eomans, in their recent war with Macedon. Cornelius now 
in the name of Konie spoke — not as a suppliant entreating 
favor, not as an equal soliciting a treaty — ^but with authority 
as a master, he commanded that the cities belonging to 
Ptolemy should be immediately restored to him, and those 
against which Antiochus was now waging war should be 
instantly left to their liberty. He next reproved Antiochus 
for daring to cross into Europe, and bade him return to Asia. 
Antiochus, the conqueror of the East, ever surrounded with 
flatterers, was unused to listen to the language of authority. 
He answered with a haughty insolence, for which in a few 
years he paid most dearly, as we shall see in the sequel. As 
to the cities which belonged to Egypt he replied, that matter 
would be settled when Ptolemy should marry his daughter. 
As to the other cities of Asia IMinor, they should receive 
their liberty from him, not from the Eomans. In regard to 
his invasion of Europe, he was only taking possession of his 
rightful territory, conquered from Lysimachus, by his pre- 
decessor, Seleucus I., four generations previous, and that he 
had a perfect right there to establish his son on the throne 
of European Thrace. He indignantly demanded what right 
Eome could have to dictate to him which cities he might 
conquer, and which not. The embassadors from the invaded 
cities were now admitted, and complained of the invasion. 
The Eomans heard, and judged that the acts of Antiochus 
were unjustifiable. Antiochus, offended at the bold plainness 
of the embassadors, declared in effect that Eome had no 
right to judge in these matters, and ought to attend to her 
own affairs, and allow him to do the same. The council 
broke up in confusion, with no other result than the mani- 
festation of the fact that Eome, the greatest power of the 
West, and Antiochus, the greatest monarch of the East, must 
settle their difficulties on the field of battle. 

Just at this time occurred the rebellion of Scopas, in 



154 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Egypt, which was however soon quelled, but out of which. 
grew the rumor that Ptolemy was dead. Antiochus now 
manifested how little regard he had for Egypt, and how 
strong his determination to rule supreme. He started im- 
mediately for the conquest of all Egypt. But learning his 
mistake he sailed to attack the island of Cyprus, which he- 
longed to Ptolemy. A storm arose, shattered his fleet, and 
frustrated all his purposes, and he retired to Antioch, with 
the fragments of his army and navy, and rested through the 
winter, devising new campaigns. The Roman embassadors 
having settled affairs in relation to Philip of Macedon, and 
held their fruitless interview with Antiochus, were witnesses 
to these ambitious projects of Antiochus, and understood 
them. 

They returned to Rome, reported all, and apprised the 
Senate that although they had closed the war with Macedon, 
they must now prepare for a greater and more extensive 
one. They assured the Senate that whatever might be the 
promises of Antiochus, he certainly intended to invade Europe, 
and undo all that Eome had done for the freedom of the 
Greeks ; even if he did not invade Rome itself. All per- 
ceived that these accusations were founded on truth, and 
immediately prepared for the forthcoming event. Greece 
was not yet entirely free from evil. Nabis, the tyrant, ex- 
ceeded his authority in Sparta, and resisted the Romans. 
The -iEtolians, ever restless and impatient of restraint, 
anxious for an opportunity to engage in war for the sake of 
plunder, were ready to throw o& the yoke of obedience to 
Rome. These were elements that Antiochus might use to 
further his schemes. Embassadors were again sent out to 
watch closely the designs of Nabis, and to observe all the 
momements of Antiochus ; but other steps were taken by 
Rome beside sending embassadors. They prepared to enforce 
their orders with an army. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 155 

Meanwhile a council was held in Eome. The Romans 
occupied the year 195, in partially subduing Nabis and regu- 
lating afiPairs in Greece. In the spring Antiochus left An- 
tioch and repaired to Ephesus, to concert measures for future 
wars. He was now pondering in his mind whether it would 
be safest to declare war against Eome, and then make war 
upon the cities and States that had put themselves under 
Roman protection, or to invest and capture these cities singly 
without any formal declaration. Just at this time an event 
occurred that determined his purpose. Since the conclusion 
of the war between Rome and Carthage, the great Hannibal 
had been trying to remain in quiet. But he found it im- 
possible to do so. The fires of ambition, the restless spirit 
of enterprise, and the deadly hate of Rome, kept the ele- 
ments of his soul agitated. He kept an eye on 'all the 
affairs of the world. He w^ell understood the relations be- 
tween Rome and Syria, and was suspected of holding secret 
correspondence with Antiochus. Whether true or not, the 
charge reached Rome, and commissioners were appointed to 
visit Carthage and ascertain the facts. Hannibal did not 
wait for their arrivals, but having a vessel at his command, 
he immediately left Carthage, and soon presented himself at 
Antioch. But Antiochus had gone to Ephesus. 

Hannibal followed him, and while the king of Syria was 
deliberating what to do, Hannibal arrived. Hannibal, the 
enemy of Rome, the great hero of many generations, was 
now in the council of Antiochus. The king no longer 
doubted his ability to cope with Rome. Very little was done 
in the year 194, except to regulate the affairs of Nabis in 
Greece, and to augment the armies of Rome and Syria. 

The year 193 B. C, was marked by vigorous preparations 
for war on the part of the two great powers of the world. 
At Rome the embassadors of the cities of Asia Minor, and 
those of Antiochus and of other portions of the world, were 



156 THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 

pleading tlieir cause with the Senate. The affairs of Syria 
were so extensive and complex, that a more private council 
was appointed, in which Quintus and his colleague, on the 
part of Rome, heard the complaints of the representatives 
of Asia Minor and the embassadors of Antiochus. 

The cities claimed their freedom ; the Syrians were not 
authorized to yield up any of the lofty pretentions of Anti- 
ochus. The council concluded without settlement, but con- 
vinced the Eomans of the necessity of war with Antiochus. 
His agents solicited Rome not to let loose the dogs of war, 
but were unwilling to relinquish one jot of those claims that 
provoked the war. The various embassadors on the Eastern 
question had scarcely departed, before others arrived from 
Carthage, informing the Romans that Hannibal was with 
Antiochus, and from his movements it was certain that they 
were preparing to invade Europe. 

Hannibal was indeed advising Antiochus to declare war 
against Rome, and counselling how that war ought to be 
conducted. Had the Carthaginian counsel been pursued, 
the fate of the war might have been materially changed, but 
the effeminate Syrian could easier approve than execute his 
plan. Hannibal told him that war was certain, whether he 
chose it or not, and that it were better to choose than be com- 
pelled. He also advised that Roman and not Syrian ground 
be made the theater of action. Attack and eat up the food of 
the enemy's country, and not be invaded and eaten up. He 
desired Antiochus to march immediately into Greece, take 
advantage of the discordant element there, to make himself 
master, and after rest and preparation, hold out the appear- 
ances of invading Italy itself. Seeming always on the point 
of moving forth with this intention, he would thus cause 
Rome to exhaust herself in the defense of home, while he, 
(Hannibal), would retire to Carthage, where he had many 
friends who would rally to his call. With these he would 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 157 

invade Rome on the opposite side. In this manner they 
could keep Rome in trouble, consume her resources, and 
devour her substance ; and while this was passing, Antiochus 
could not only establish his authority in the free cities of 
Asia Minor, but gain a sure footing in Greece, and ulti- 
mately overcome Rome itself. Hannibal assured Antiochus 
that if he did not pursue this policy, Rome would certainly 
enter Asia, and treat him in this manner. The result con- 
firmed the worth of this sagacious counsel. Antiochus 
approved but did not profit by the advice. Hannibal sent a 
Tyrian into Carthage to sound the people, and prepare 
adherents against his arrival, but the agent was discovered, 
and escaped with difficulty. The whole affair being thus 
made known, was communicated to the Romans, who now 
feared a war with both Carthage and Syria at the same time. 
But Carthage had made already a terrible experience of the 
effects of war with Rome, and remained quiet. 

The ^tolians of Greece, full of hatred against the Ro- 
mans, now attempted to induce Philip of Macedon, once 
again to rebel and engage in a war with Rome, assuring him 
that all Greece was tired of these new masters, and that all 
the Greeks and also Antiochus would unite with him in such 
a war. They also sent word to Nabis to rise against Rome 
with such of the Greeks as were under his control, assuring 
him that Antiochus and Philip were already engaged to sus- 
tain him in the effort. A third embassador repaired to the 
court of Antiochus, with just the same assurances in regard 
to the others. But neither Philip nor Antiochus dared place 
implicit confidence in the ^tolians, who within a few years 
had been on all sides of every question, fought for and 
against all parties, and changed sides with every fleeting 
change of success or defeat. Antiochus, although he heartily 
entered into all their schemes, had the caution not to declare 
himself openly, but proceeded in his work secretly. He 



158 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

proceeded to consummate the marriage of his daughter 
with Ptolemy Epiphanes, so as to secure peace on the part 
of Egypt. Another daughter, Anticchia, he offered in 
marriage to Eumenes, king of Pergamos, but that sagacious 
prince saw less advantage in being the son-in-law of Anti- 
ochus, and involved all his wars, than in liis independence 
and the friendship of Rome. He, therefore, declined the 
proposed alliance, and Antiochus drove a different bargain, 
giving his daughter to Arianthes, king of Cappadocia. 
Eumenes clearly saw what we all would see from the result, 
that this marriage was consummated without any reference 
to the happiness of his daghter, or designed to confer favor 
upon his son-in-law, but simply to subject the latter to his 
control, and make him contribute to the advancement of 
his schemes of ambition. AVhen the war was completed, he 
would be just as ready to rob his own children as any other. 
The marriage was consummated in 229, after which, in the 
depth of winter, Antiochus repaired to Ephesus ; from 
whence he sent his son back to Syria, to take care of the 
home cabals. But he found it necessary to march back to 
the East, to subdue the Pissidians who had revolted from 
him. 

War having not yet been formally declared, Rome sent 
three embassadors to Antiochus. They repaired first to 
Pergamos, where they were assured of the regard of 
Eumenes, who, possessing but a small country, feared that 
he should be devoured by Antiochus, for which reason he 
earnestly desired Rome to declare war against him. 

Antiochus having quelled the revolt of Pissidia, had 
retired to Appama. Sulpitius, one of the embassadors," 
being sick, was left at Pergamos, while Villus proceeded to 
Ephesus, where he met Hannibal. He here displayed great 
diplomatic tact, by consulting often with Hannibal, assuring 
him he had nothing to fear from the Romans. Although 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 159 

these consultations were of no value in themselves, they 
produced a desirable result, for Antiochus learning the 
intimacy of Villus and Hannibal, suspected the latter to be 
an enemy in disguise, attempting to reconcile himself with 
Rome by betraying the king of Syria into their hands. 
This, though false, caused Antiochus to avoid the counsel of 
Hannibal and distrust his friendship. 

From Ephesus, Villus repaired to Appama, where he 
met with Antiochus. Each party criminated the other, 
and the interview closed with no definite result, except an 
increased hatred of each against the other. The conference 
was broken off by the sudden death of the son of Antiochus. 
The king repaired to Ephesus to mourn his loss, while 
Villus retired to Pergamos, where he found his colleague 
entirely recovered. Soon after, the embassadors, at the 
request of Antiochus, appeared at Ephesus, where another 
interview was had, but still with no more harmony of 
counsel. Negotiations were broken off, and the embassadors 
returned to Kome. 

Left to himself, Antiochus summoned a great council of 
his own friends, none of whom would dare give advice 
different from the king's own choice. They flattered him as 
the greatest of Monarchs, and urged him immediately to 
declare war against Rome, and pass over into Europe. One 
Alexander of Acarnania, especially exhorted him not to delay, 
and gave substantially the same advice that Hannibal had 
previously given. All united in condemning the insolent 
demand of the Romans. Ah ! they who roll in oriental 
luxury, little understand the inflexible energy of the hardy 
western soldier. Hannibal was not called to the council, 
on account of the suspicion excited against him ; but sub- 
sequently he, by his public acts of hostility against Rome, 
regained the confidence of Antiochus. Thus ended the 
year 192 B. C. 



160 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Nabis, the tyrant of Greece, although brought to terms, 
and a treaty with Eome, had violated that treaty, and she 
was again compelled to declare war against him. An army 
was sent to Greece to aid the Achseaus against the tyrant. 
The great Philoposmen was at the head of the Grecian 
army. While these things were transpiring, the Jj^tolians 
sent an earnest invitation to Antiochns, to invade Greece. 
A messenger was sent in return from Antiochus to the 
JEtolians, who described in glowing colors and pompous 
language, the power, glory, and riches of Antiochus, who 
would soon come into Greece and deliver the people from 
the yoke of the Eomans. Antiochus heartily accepted the 
invitation to enter Greece ; he did not wait for the arrival 
of his army from Syria, and the forces which were march- 
ing to join him. He had invaded but not yet subdued 
Smyrna, Lampsacus, and Troas. 

These powerful enemies he left in the rear, and indis- 
creetly, at an unsuitable time, and not in the manner recom- 
mended by Hannibal, entered Greece with some ten thous- 
and foot and five hundred horse, altogether too small a 
force to hold even a defenceless country, much less sustain 
himself on foreign soil against powerful enemies. Arriving 
in Greece, he called a council at Lamia, made a speech, 
apologizing for coming with so few forces, and assured 
them he would soon fill all Greece with his invincible army, 
and navy, engines of war, etc., and instead of talking about 
arbitrating between them and the Eomans, spoke of himself 
as the head of their army, and proposed to lead them 
against their enemies. 

The wise and grave members of the ^tolian council, saw 
that they had only promises instead of aid, and a master 
instead of an auxiliary ; yet the faction succeeded in passing 
a vote declaring Antiochus the commander in chief of the 
^tolian forces. Then came the deliberation upon the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 161 

question, how shall we begin ? whom shall we attack ? 
where and upon what shall wc commence the war? 
Very important questions indeed, at that late hour, after 
having entered the foreign country. 

They proposed to attack the Island of Chalcis, but fearing 
to do so, after some demonstrations, retired to the city of 
Demetrius. They next tried, but in vain, to win the 
Achseans to their cause. Failing in this, they retired again 
to Chalcis, where the gates were opened from within, by a 
faction who chose to favor the cause of the ^tolians and 
Antiochus. The Eomans now declared war against him 
and his adherents, and the hostile forces were soon put in 
motion. With all the diplomacy of Antiochus, he was able 
to form but few alliances, for just at this juncture, Egypt, 
Carthage, Syracuse, and Philip of Macedon, with others, 
sent embassadors with men, and ships, corn, wine, oil, and 
money, to aid the Eoman cause against the Syrian monarch. 
Antiochus now found it necessary to hold council with his 
eyes open to the facts, instead of his ears open to the voice 
of flattery. Hannibal was now in his council, and advised 
the most strenuous efforts to win Philip to his cause ; but 
should that fail, to send Seleucus with an army to invade 
Macedon from the north-east, and thus prevent Philip from 
aiding the Eomans. He also urged Antiochus to hasten 
his troops from Asia, and march to the west of Greece, and 
from thence sail immediately to attack Eome at home, 
asserting constantly, as he had often done before, that the 
only place to conquer Eome was in Italy. Antiochus was still 
surrounded by courtiers who loved the luxury of the camp, 
but not the struggle and danger of the field of battle. 
They therefore advised him against invading Italy ; first, 
because if successful, Hannibal, who had advised it, would 
receive the glory of that success, and second, because he 

14 



162 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

could not fail of overcoming the Bomans with his numerous 
hosts. His indolence, not his judgment, caused him to 
reject the only counsel at that time of any value to him. 
He hesitated ; sent for his army and navy in Asia, and 
squandered away his time in a fruitless expedition against 
Megara, then retired into Chalcis, where the foolish old 
monarch, instead of soliciting the favors of Mars, fell asleep 
in the lap of Cupid. 

He fell desperately in love with the daughter of a man 
at whose house he chanced to lodge ; he a man of more 
than fifty years, and she a maid of less than twenty. For- 
getting the great object of the expedition — the deliverance 
of Greece, and the conquest of Kome — he married the maid, 
and, spent the winter in celebrating the nuptials in riot- 
ous debauchery. The army caught more fully than before 
the spirit of revelry, and the winter passed away while 
they were being enervated and unfitted to cope with the 
more temperat'^ Komans. The spring was approaching, and 
Antiochus was aroused from his revery by receiving infor- 
mation that the Koman consul was in Thessaly, not far 
distant— that the storm had prevented the army and navy 
from Asia from landing, and that the forces of Greek allies, 
on which he so much depended, had been greatly over-esti- 
mated, and that of those who could once have been relied 
upon, many, during his carousal, had forsaken his stan- 
dard. 

He had less than ten thousand men. By a desperate 
eff'ort, he now gained the straits of Thermopylae, and there 
attempted to defend himself, but was attacked by the Bo- 
mans, defeated, and most of his army cut to pieces, while 
he, with the very small number of five hundred men, 
retired, first to Chalcis, and then to Ephesus. 

In the action at Thermopylae, a stone struck Antiochus, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 163 

and broke a number of his teetb, giving him such pain 
that he was compelled to. retire, leaving his soldiers to 
perish by the hands of his enemies. 

The remainder of the year was occupied by the Eomans 
in subduing and punishing the ^tolians, and other disaf- 
fected Greeks. 

The King of Syria, abandoning all thought of the con- 
quest of Eome, supposed the war at an end, and resigned 
himself to pleasure, and the pernicious counsel of his flat- 
terers. But Hannibal, at length, once more roused him to 
a sense of his danger, assuring him that soon he would not 
have to fight Europe for Eome, but for his own crown and 
kingdom, and that Asia would be the field of conflict ; that 
he must immediately prepare either to defend himself, 
sword in hand, or resign all thoughts of retaining the 
empire. Aroused by these judicious counsels, he again sent 
orders to hasten the march of his eastern army. To pre- 
vent the Eomans from crossing into Asia, he sent a fleet 
into Chersonesus, fortified Lysimachia, Sestus and Abydos, 
and then again relapsed into quiet at Ephesus. It was, 
however, resolved that the navies of the two powers should 
try their strength. Polyxendius, the commander, was 
ordered to advance with the fleet against Livius, at the 
head of the Eoman navy. Near the coast of Ionia, the 
belligerents met, and after a desperate strife, in which both 
parties displayed great courage, the Syrians were defeated, 
with a fearful slaughter. Ten of the ships of Polyxendius 
were sunk, thirteen were captured, and the remnant, in a 
disabled state, returned to Ephesus. Antiochus was at 
Magnesia, inspecting his land forces, when he received 
intelligence of the naval defeat. He instantly hastened to 
the sea-coast, where he repaired the disabled vessels, and 
added others to them. He then committed them to the 



164 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

care of Hannibal, with orders to sail and bring the army, 
whose movements overland were too slow. 

Hannibal, though a good general on land, was unfitted 
to command at sea, and in this new capacity accomplished 
almost nothing. Seleucus marched westward with part of 
the army, to watch the movement of tlie enemy. Thus 
closed the campaigns of the year 190 B. C. — opened with 
such important events in the field of war. 



ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT. 

Defeated in Europe — defeated on the water — compelled 
to evacuate and destroy his fortress in Thrace, Antiochus 
concentrated his forces at Magnesia, where the Koman army 
surrounded and attacked him, and, after a spirited battle, 
the Syrian hosts were overcome, and Antiochus was com- 
pelled to fly. It was then in tlie power of Eome to have 
taken possession of all Syria; but their dominions were 
sufficiently expanded for the time, and prudence required 
them to grow more gradually. It was the policy, not to 
destroy, but to diminish the power of rival nations. For 
this reason, the Komans had not completely destroyed 
Philip, when in their power, but were content with reducing 
him to a state of dependency, and then granting him liberal 
terms. 

This was their policy in their war with Syria. One object 
of the war was to free the cities of Asia Minor from foreign 
Asiatic masters. Another object was to so reduce the power 
of Syria as to be under no future apprehension from that 
quarter. These ends being attained, they could annex 
Syria to the Eoman Empire at some subsequent period, if 



THE KINaCOM OF BRASS. 165 

that event became desirable. Instead, therefore, of push- 
ing Antiochiis to extremities, a negotiation was opened, 
resulting in a treaty of peace. The conditions of that 
treaty were exceedingly humiliating to Antiochus, whose 
ambition, but a little time previous, had extended beyond 
the bounds of his kingdom, even to the conquest of Eome 
itself. 

Instead of establishing himself in Europe, he was com- 
pelled to abandon all that he claimed as his own in Asia 
Minor, west of the mountains of Taurus. He was also 
required to pay all the expenses of the war, amounting to 
the vast sum of fifteen thousand talents — equal in value to 
four hundred and fifteen million dollars — part at the time 
of concluding the treaty, and the remainder in annual pay- 
ments. As a guaranty of his fidelity, he was required to 
deliver to the Komans a number of hostages of rank, one 
of whom was the second son of Antiochus, then living, who 
subsequently became king of Syria, with the title Anti- 
ochus Epiphanes. 

By the treaty of Antiochus with the Eoman consul, Han- 
nibal, the friend and ally, was to be delivered to the enemy. 
Hannibal had long been the invincible foe of Kome, and he 
well knew his fate if he fell into such hands. After the 
defeat of Antiochus, and the opening of negotiations, Han- 
nibal, with the sagacity of a crafty politician as well as 
warrior, suspected at once that he should be made the prize 
and be bargained away to his enemies. "Waiting for no 
intelligence of this kind, the moment that he heard nego- 
tiations were in progress, he, without ceremony, fled to 
Egypt. 

By all these events Rome had gained such advantages 
that although Syria still existed as a State, it was pecu- 
liarly under the shadow of the Koman wing. No subsequent 
Syrian monarch could attempt any great enterprise without 



166 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

the consent of Kome. A position had been obtained in Asia, 
which in due time resulted in bringing completely the 
third head of the third beast under the control of the Roman 
kingdom— the fourth beast, " dreadful and terrible, and 
strong exceedingly.'^ 

LAST EVENTS IN THE LIFE OV ANTIOCHUS THE GEEAT. 

Rome must be paid. The money must be raised. But 
from whence is it to come ? The cofters of the King of 
Syria are empty — his country is desolated by war, and his 
revenues all dried up by foreign conquest. He takes a 
journey through his provinces. In the province of Elymas, 
a part of Media, stood the famous temple of Jupiter Belus. 
Within the temple were large sums of money, which the 
priests had been collecting for a long series of years. The 
necessities of Antiochus pressed heavily upon him. His 
adversities had hardened his heart, naturally generous and 
kind, and like Hermias, the counselor of his youth, he had 
become insensible to the claims of justice or religion. Cov- 
ering his evil deed under the pretense that the province 
had rebelled against him, in the silence of the night, he 
entered the temple, and carried off all its treasures. 

The inhabitants, exasperated by this sacrilege, rose and, 
aided by some of his officers whom he had abused, fell upon 
Antiochus, and slew him and all his attendants. Thus 
fell a great man and a great monarch. 

Betrayed and deceived in his youth, crafty, energetic and 
successful in his manhood, in old age he declined to a second 
childhood. With his cup almost full, he was tantalized 
with desire to see it overflow, when vaulting ambition, over- 
leaping itself, reduced him to poverty. Then, adding crime 
to misfortune, he terminates the play, and the curtain igno- 
miniously drops, leaving t5e throne to his son, Seleucus, 
the raiser of taxes. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 167 



STRIA — SELEUCUS PHILOPATER, B. C. 187. 

" Then sliall stand up, in his estate, a raiser of taxes in the glory of 
the kingdom, but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in 
anger nor in battle." 

Antiochus the Great left several children. His daugh- 
ter Cleopatra had previously married Ptolemy Epiphanes. 
She was the mother of Philometor and Physcon. His second 
son, Antiochus Epiphanes had heen left a hostage in Eome. 
Seleucus being the older son, ascended the throne of his 
father. His reign continued about eleven years, and was 
distinguished by no very remarkable event. Owing to the 
treaty of peace of his father with the Eomans, in which he 
engaged to pay them large sums of money, it became neces- 
sary for Seleucus to raise heavy taxes, and to seize upon the 
treasures of his people wherever he had opportunity. It is 
highly probable that he sent an officer, Heliodorus, to seize 
upon what treasure he might find in the temple of Jerusa- 
lem. To prevent this plunder, the Jews may have got up a 
riot, and the priest may have played some tricks upon the 
officer, but it is hardly probable that the following story in 
the Maccabees, quoted approvingly by Eollin, can be true. 
It must be an exaggeration adorned with fictions : 

"Under him happened the famous incident concerning 
Heliodorus, related in the second book of Maccabees. The 
holy city of Jerusalem enjoyed at that time perfect tran- 
quility. The piety and resolution of Onias, the high priest, 
caused the laws of God to be strictly observed there, and 
prompted kings and idolatrous princes to hold the holy place 
in highest veneration. They honored it with rich gifts, and 
king Seleucus furnished it from his own private revenues, 
all that was necessary for the solemnization of the sacrifices. 
Nevertheless the perfidy of a Jew called Simon, governor of 
the temple, raised on a sudden great disorder in the city. 



168 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

This man, to avenge himself of the opposition which Onias, 
the high priest, made to his unjust enterprises, informed the 
king that there were immense treasures in the temple, which 
were designed for the expenses of the sacrifice, and that he 
might seize upon them all. The king, upon this informa- 
tion, sent Heliodorus, his first minister, to Jerusalem, with 
orders to carry off all those treasures. Heliodorus, after 
having heen received by the high priest, with honors of 
every kind, told him the motive of his journey, and asked 
him whether the information that had been given the king 
in regard to the treasures was true. The high priest told 
him that the treasures that were deposited there were a 
trust, and were allotted to the maintenance of widows and 
orphans ; that he could not absolutely dispose of them to the 
prejudice of those to whom they belonged, and who imagined 
they could not secure them better than by depositing them 
in the temple, the holiness of which was revered throughout 
the whole universe. The treasures consisted of four hundred 
talents of silver, about fifty thousand pounds sterling, and 
two hundred talents of gold, about three hundred thousand 
pounds sterling. However, the minister sent from the prince, 
demanded the treasures, and told him plainly that this 
money, whatever might be the consequences, must be carried 
to the king. The day appointed for carrying it off being 
come, Heliodorus came to the temple, designing to execute 
his commission. Immediately the whole city was seized with 
terror. The priests dressed in their sacerdotal robes, fell 
prostrate at the foot of the altar, beseeching the God of 
heaven, who enacted the law with regard to deposits, to pre- 
serve those laid up in his temple. Great numbers flocked 
together, and jointly besought their Creator upon their knees 
not to suffer so holy a place to be profaned. The women 
and maidens were seen covered with sackcloth, and lifting , 
up their hands to heaven. It was a spectacle truly worthy 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 169 

of compassion, to see such multitudes, and especially the 
high priest, pierced with the deepest afflictions, under the 
apprehension of so horrible a sacrilege. By this time Helio- 
dorus, with his guards, was come to open the gates of the 
treasury. But the spirit of the Almighty now revealed 
himself by the most sensible marks, insomuch that all those 
who had dared to obey Heliodorus, were struck down by a 
divine power, and seized with a terror which bereft them of 
all their faculties. For there appeared to them a horse, 
richly caparisoned, which, rushing at once upon Heliodorus, 
struck him several times with his fore feet. The man who 
sat on the horse had a terrible aspect, and his arms seemed 
of gold. At the same time there were seen two young men 
whose beauty dazzled the eye, and who, standing on each 
side of Heliodorus, scourged him incessantly, and in a most 
most violent manner. Heliodorus fell to the ground, and 
was taken up and put upon his litter, and thus this man, 
who a moment before had come into the temple with his 
guards, was forced away from this holy place, and no one to 
succor him, and that because the power of God had displayed 
itself in its strongest manner. By the same power he was 
cast to the ground, speechless and without the least sign of 
life, while the temple, which before resounded with nothing 
but lamentations, now echoed with the shouts of all the peo- 
ple, returning thanks to the Almighty for having raised the 
glory of his power. But now some of Heliodorus' friends 
besought the high priest to invoke God in his favor. Im- 
mediately Onias offered a sacrifice for his health. While 
he was praying, the two young men above mentioned ap- 
peared to Heliodorus and said to him, ' return thanks to 
Onias, the high priest, for it is for his sake the Lord has 
granted your life. After having been chastened of God, 
declare to the whole world his miraculous power.' Having 
spoken these words, they vanished. Heliodorus offered up 
15 



170 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

sacrifice, and made solemn vows to him who had restored 
his life. He returned thanks to Onias, and went his way, 
declaring the wonderful works of the Almighty to which 
he had himself heen an eye-witness. The king asking 
him whether he believed that another person might be 
sent with safety to Jerusalem, he answered: "In case you 
have an enemy, or traitorous wretch, who has a design 
upon your crown, send him thither, and you will see him 
sent back flayed with scourging, if he come at all, for he 
who inhabiteth the heaven is himself in that place ; he is 
the guardian and protector of it, and he strikes those mor- 
tally who go thither to injure it." 

After a reign of about ten years, Philopater, for some 
reason, desired the counsel and aid of his brother, who was 
still in Pwome. He therefore sent his own son, Demetrius, 
afterward called Soter, as a substitute to Kome, that Anti- 
ochus might return to Syria. While this change was being 
effected, Demetrius having gone to Kome and Antiochus 
not having yet arrived, Heliodorus, the ofiicer who had such 
trouble in Jerusalem, conceived the idea of gaining the 
throne of Syria for himself. He therefore poisoned Seleu- 
cus, in the year 175 B. C. Seleucus seems to have been a 
mild, inefficient prince, possessing none of the energy and 
perseverance of his father. His only faults arose from the 
necessity imposed upon him of raising heavy taxes. By 
the treachery of his officers, he came to his end, " not in 
auger, nor in battle." 

PTOLEMY PHILOMETOR, B. C. 180. 

This young prince was about six years of age when his 
father died. He immediately received the kingdom, but 
his coronation was deferred to a subsequent day, and the 
care of the government was committed to his mother, 
Cleopatra, the daughter of Antiochus the Great. Accord- 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 171 

ingly, she for nearly seven years administered affairs 
with ability and fidelity. At her death, the government 
devolved upon the prime minister, Leneas. Egyptian states- 
men, in the name of the young king, demanded of Anti- 
ochus the restoration of the provinces of Phoenicia and 
Palestine. These provinces had ever been deemed tribu- 
tary to Egypt, but had been taken from that kingdom by 
Antiochus the Great, and transmitted to his son Seleucus, 
from whom they had passed to the present Antiochus. 
During the life of the queen mother, these difficulties had 
been prevented, she being the sister of the king of Syria ; 
but aftei' her death, the ministers were determined upon 
the recovery of their rights. This revived the war between 
Syria and Egypt — the uncle against the nephew. The 
Egyptians, in addition to the early right by the partition 
in the days of the first Ptolemy, claimed that these prov- 
inces were given as the marriage dower, by Antiochus the 
Great to Cleopatra, the mother of the king of Egypt. 
Antiochus Epiphanes denied both these claims : the parties, 
therefore, determined to decide them on the field of battle. 
Philometor being now fifteen years of age, assumed the 
reigns of government, B. C. 172. 

This coronation was attended with great pomp and cere- 
mony, and was witnessed by many foreign princes. Anti- 
ochus sent an embassador to offer presents, and affected to 
rejoice in the coronation ; but the real object of the mes- 
senger was to discover the strength of Egypt, and her plans 
in regard to the disputed provinces. Ptolemy had sought 
the aid of Eome ; but Antiochus believed that power had 
but little time to aid Egypt, as it was now engaged in the 
conquest of Macedon. He therefore determined to begin 
the war, not by defending the provinces, but by invading 
Egypt. The army of Ptolemy met that of Antiochus, in 
the year 171, near Mt. Cassius, in Pelusium. A battle 



172 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

was fought, in wliicli not justice, but victory, crowned the 
standard of the king of Syria. Thus the very entrance 
of Philometor upon public life, was marked by a defeat — 
the harbinger of an unfortunate reign. His enemy forti- 
fied Pelusium, so as to secure it for all future purposes, 
giving him not only the means of preventing the Egyptians 
from marching into Palestine, but also opening for himself 
a door of access into Egypt whenever he might please to 
invade them. Antiochus then retired into his own coun- 
try, and placed his army in winter quarters at Tyre. The 
succeeding spring brought no peace to Philometor. Anti- 
ochus had devoted the winter to the work of collec^ng ma- 
terials of war and maturing schemes of future aggran- 
dizement. Early in the spring, he again invaded Egypt, 
both by sea and land. Ptolemy sent out an army to meet 
and check the enemy, but the Egyptians were defeated in 
several engagements. Pelusium was re-taken by Anti- 
ochus, after which he pushed on to the capital. All Egypt, 
except Alexandria, submitted to him. Eollin informs us, 
that after the people had submitted, Antiochus commanded 
his officers to cease from slaying the inhabitants, although 
they were completely in his power ; for which reason, the 
Egyptians became greatly attached to him. It is not very 
apparent that a great amount of gratitude is due to an 
invader, after having killed many people, simply for not 
having killed everybody. 

It is generally admitted, that in this invasion and the 
one of the preceding year, Philometor exhibited a lack of 
talent and courage. These defects were accredited to the 
prime minister, who, having the care of the youthful king, 
had labored to render him effeminate by luxury and indo- 
lence, the better to control him and his government. In 
subsequent years, we find Philometor a man of energy and 
decision, not afraid to meet his foe in the field of Mars. 



THE KINGDOM OF BKASS. 173 

In this last campaign, Philometor either surrendered him- 
self, or was captured by Antiochus, but was set at liberty. 
He however spent much of the time with his captor, ate at 
his table, and entered into his counsels. The plans of 
Antiochus, tliough not acknowledged, were evidently now 
formed to subvert the entire government of Egypt, and 
annex that kingdom to hi§^ own. He fortified Pelusium, 
left a garrison there to keep it in his own name, and 
retired into Syria, where his presence was needed. Alex- 
andria had not submitted to the conqueror. Supposing 
that Philometor was entirely in the interest of Antiochus, 
the citizens called in and raised to the throne his younger 
brother, afterward called Physcon, B. C. 169. 

Antiochus having subdued a rebellion at home, as soon 
as he heard of the crowning of Physcon, invaded Egypt 
the third time — ostensibly for the purpose of restoring the 
government to the elder brother. After one battle by 
land, and another by sea, he marched directly upon Alex- 
andria, which he besieged. Physcon, finding himself greatly 
embarrassed, was advised by his ministers to negotiate for 
peace with the invader. The foreign ministers, especially 
those of Greece, who were at his court, conducted the 
mediation, and for this purpose, repaired to the camp of 
Antiochus, presented their mission, and urged him, by the 
ties of near relationship, not to oppress his nephews. 

He gave them but indiff'erent answers, and renewed the 
seige of Alexandria. The two brother kings had a sister, 
Cleopatra, who, about this time, attracted much atten- 
tion, and who, some years afterward, became conspicuous in 
Egyptian history. Subsequent to these events, she was 
the wife of Philometor, and after his death married Physcon ; 
then was divorced by him, and fled to Syria, where she died. 
At this time, however, she was unmarried, and associated 
with her brother in managing the desperate afi*airs of 



174 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Egypt. Physcon and Cleopatra sent messengers to Eome, 
who represented to the Senate, that the monarchs of Egypt 
had long heen in alliance with Eome ; that they were now 
greatly distressed, that it would he dishonorable for Rome 
to permit one of her allies to he rudely subjugated, and 
closed by requesting that Eome would use her kind offices 
in persuading Antiochus to retire from Egypt. A greater 
argument than the honor of Rome or the love of Egypt 
influenced the Senate. They were jealous of the power of 
Antiochus, and would rather diminish than increase his 
authority. The cause of Egypt was heard and her request 
granted. Three noble Romans were commissioned to repair 
to Egypt, with authority to settle difficulties and expel 
Antiochus. These events required some months of time. 
Antiochus met with a spirited resistance at Alexandria ; he 
therefore changed his plans. He arrayed one brother 
against the other, that they might exhaust their resources 
in civil war, until they should become so weak that he 
could conquer them both and take the kingdom. 

Concealing his purpose for a time, he incited wicked 
Philometor against his brother, gave him the control of 
Egypt, except Pelusium, which Antiochus kept in his own 
hands, and again retired to Syria. 

While the embassadors of Physcon and Cleopatra were 
in Rome, and before Antiochus had retired from Egypt, 
the Rhodians sent messengers to him urging him to be at 
peace with Egypt. But the embassy produced no good 
effect upon the ambitious king of Syria ; he j)rotested to 
them that his only object in invading Egypt was to place 
the elder brother on his rightful throne. 

Philometor was now becoming a man. His judgment 
had ripened, and he had acquired some experience. After 
Antiochus had retired, he reflected thoroughly upon the 
state of affairs. He penetrated the policy of his uncle ; he 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 175 

saw that if Antiochus intended him any good he would not 
have retained Pelnsium. He therefore, like a noble, 
generous man, communicated this suspicion of his uncle's 
policy to Physcon. The brothers met, their differences were 
adjusted, they were reconciled, and agreed to reign together 
in brotherly love. Believing that .Antioelius would renew 
the invasion in the spring, the two brothers immediately 
fortified Egypt against Syria, and sent to foreign states, 
especially Greece, for soldiers to aid in their defense. 

Agreeably to this suspicion, Antiochus hearing that the 
two brothers were reconciled, invaded Egypt for the fifth 
time, and sent his fleet into Cyprus, to take possession of 
that Island. This was in 168 B. C. He entered Egypt 
with a large army, and renewed the war openly and without 
any pretext of coming to aid his nephew, but as the declared 
enemy of both the kings. The embassadors of Egypt met 
him, and demanded why he came, what were his intentions 
and desires. He answered, " that he would have Cyprus, 
Phoenicia, Palestine, Pelusium, and all of Egypt lying east 
of the Nile, abandoned to him forever, and that he would 
have peace on no other terms ;'' and fixed a day for the 
kings to give him their final answer. 

Antiochus had not much regarded the determination of 
the Eomans to aid Egypt, for he believed they were 
sufficiently employed in the war with Macedon. But just 
about this time the war was closed by the defeat of Perseus, 
the last Macedonian king. The commissioners sent from 
Rome to settle the Egyptian difficulties, now arrived at 
Alexandria. The timefor the answers to the unreasonable 
demands of Antiochus had expired, and he had already 
commenced his attack upon the city when the Roman 
embassy arrived. At the head of this embassy, was 
Pompilius, whom Antiochus had known in Rome many 
years before. The Romans met Antiochus at a little 



176 THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 

distance from Alexandria, and delivered to him the decree 
of the Senate, that he should depart from Egypt. He 
received and read the order, but desiring to gain time for 
new intrigues, said that he would consider it among his 
friends at leisure, and then give his answer. 

On the one side stood three Eomans, unarmed and 
defenseless ; on the other, a triumphant king, surrounded 
by his army. What could the Eomans do? What did 
they do ? Pompilius, with a wand, drew a circle round the 
king, and bade him in the name of Borne not to depart out 
of that circle until he answered whether he would or would 
not obey the decree. Antiochus, struck with fear at the 
bold manner of the Eomans, replied that he would obey, 
and very soon after departed from Egypt, with all his 
army. Thus ended his great scheme of unrighteous aggran- 
dizement, by the ruin of his sister's children. Pompilius 
returned with his colleagues to Alexandria, where he 
brought to a conclusion the treaty of peace between the 
two brothers, which had hitherto been but slightly sketched. 
He then crossed into Cyprus, sent home Antiochus' fleet, 
which had gained a victory over that of the Egyptians, 
restored the whole island to the kings of Egypt, who had 
a just claim to it, and returned to Eome, in order to 
acquaint the Senate with the success of his embassy. We 
must now leave the two brothers in Egypt, and for a time 
observe passing events in the other divisions of Alexander's 
empire. 

ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES, 175 B. C. 

"And out of one of tliem came forth a little horn, which waxed exceed- 
ing great toward the south, (Egypt), and toward the east, (Persia), and 
toward the pleasant land, (Judea) . 

Every student of the Bible, and every person who would 
have an intelligent opinion upon the questions of prophesy, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 177 

ought to be familiar with the history and doings of this 
king of Syria. He was the special subject of the visions 
of Daniel, as recorded in the Book of Daniel, eighth chap- 
ter, from the ninth to the fourteenth verses, and in the 
eleventh chapter, from the twenty-first verse to the close. 
Antiochus Epiphanes was born about 210 B. C. He 
was the second son of Antiochus the Great, and the fourth 
king of Syria who had borne that title. On the death of 
his father, his brother, Seleucus Philopator, succeeded to 
the throne, and, after reigning eleven years, died, leaving 
an infant son. Epiphanes had been sent to Eome, as a 
hostage, according to an agreement made with that people, 
by his father, of which an account has been given in the 
life of that monarch. He was returning home from Kome 
by the way of Greece, and stopped at Athens, to view the 
works of art in that classic city. While there, he received 
intelligence that his royal brother had been murdered by 
one of his ofiicers, Heliodorus, who had assumed the reigns 
of government; that he was sustained by a powerful party 
of adherents, but that there were other political parties in 
the field. The then Cleopatra of Egypt was the daughter 
of Antiochus, the sister of our hero, the widow of Ptolemy 
Epiphanes, and the mother of Philometor and Physcon. 
One party were desirous to bestow the crown of Syria upon 
Philometor of Egypt, by virtue of his mother; another 
party sought the interest of the child of the late king. 
Eumenes, king of Pergamos, and his brother. Attains, 
were the ardent friends of Epiphanes. To them he applied 
for aid, which was promptly afforded him ; and by this, in 
opposition to all claimants, he was established on the throne 
of his father, after having subdued and slain the usurper. 
Daniel thus foretells of him: "And in his estate, shall 
stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the 
honor of the king, but he shall come in peaceably, and 



178 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

obtain tlie kingdom by flatteries.'^ The new incumbent 
received the title of Epiphanes, which signifies the illustri- 
ous, although no action of his ever merited so exalted a 
name. Daniel calls him the vile person, which was by far 
the more appropriate title. It must, however, be confessed 
that in this world of strife, and turmoil and violence, they 
usually receive honor and illustrious titles, who, in harmony 
with the spirit of the world, that lieth in wickedness, do 
the most evil and cause the largest amount of human 
suffering. 

The prophesy of Daniel is thus explained : The people 
of Syria did not give him the honor of the kingdom, but 
he was forced upon them by the king and prince of Per- 
gamos ; yet he obtained it without fighting with any except 
the usuper. He obtained the kingdom by flatteries, by 
persuading these princes that he would be of advantage to 
them, by flattering the Komans that, as he had lived with 
them and become familiar with their manners and customs, 
which he approved, they ought to favor his claims. Thus 
the usurper gained the honors, while the brother's child and 
the sister's children gave place to him. 

It matters little to us who had the best claim to the 
throne, so that he who gained used it to promote the hap- 
piness of the people and the honor of himself. Epiphanes 
made himself vile by mingling freely and with an indecent 
familiarity with the common people. Sometimes he would 
throw handsfull of corn among the crowd, and laugh to see 
the scramble to obtain it. Liberality on the part of a mon- 
arch toward the worthy, the humble and the poor, is not 
vile, but a commendable virtue. But the indiscreet bestow- 
ment of treasures, without regard to merit or necessity, 
when the rude and not the deserving are the most success- 
ful in securing the gifts — treasures gathered by the strong 
arm of the government from the virtuous, and distributed 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 179 

among favorites, or without any specific object, is robbery 
vile, and only vile. Epiphanes -would often dress in dis- 
guise, or in some lowly habit, and, rushing into the street 
among the rabble, play all manner of antic tricks. Some- 
times he would hold a sham court, plead law, or take the 
judge's bench, and decide imaginary suits. Sometimes, 
with a foreign dress, he would hold a sham election, after 
the style of Rome, and, with cap in hand, go among the 
crowd and solicit their votes, to elect him to some petty 
Eoman office. 

In all these ways he made himself a vile person. Let 
not the reader suppose it unbecoming the dignity of a ruler, 
be he king or president, to commingle freely with the 
masses of the poor, and learn their joys and sorrows, trials 
and necessities, that he may the better appreciate their 
wants and protect their rights. All this may be done 
without detriment. A ruler may, and ought to be easily 
approachable by the humblest citizen ; but familiarity and 
sociability need not compromise dignity. There may be 
affability and kindness, coupled with all that self-respect 
which becomes the representative of authority. 

A ruler is contemptible who has no other dignity than a 
haughty distance, which holds no common sympathy with 
his fellow-beings. He is equally contemptible who permits 
his familiarity to degenerate into buftbonery and frivolity. 
Antiochus Epiphanes to the vileness above described, 
added habits of excess in eating and drinking, and rude 
and immodest behavior, such as visiting vulgar gath- 
erings, and there using obscene and corrupt language, and 
dancing in a state of semi-nudity. Knowing these matters 
of a private and personal nature, let us study his more 
public relations to the world. These for the sake of con- 
venience, we will divide into three sections : first, his wars 



180 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

with Egypt ; second, liis persecution of the Jews, and third, 
his administration of the government of Syria. 

SEC. I, — TOWARD THE SOUTH. 

"And after tlie league made with him he shall work deceitfully, for he 
shall come up and shall become strong with a small people. 

Soon after the coronation of Antiochus, the old and her- 
editary question was revived, in regard to the possession of 
Palestine, Cyprus and Phoenicia, As usual, the Jews fre- 
quently changed masters, and every change was accompa- 
nied with the sacrifice of a vast amount of human life. In 
the history of Philometor and Physcon, these wars have 
been related, so far as they have respect to Egypt ; but in 
giving the history of Syria, they must necessarily be again 
spoken of, by which means some repetition can not well be 
avoided. 

While Cleopatra, the queen-mother, lived, her influence 
was sufficient to restrain the two nations from war. These 
provinces, having previously* been taken b}^ Antiochus the 
Great, remained under the control of Epiphanes. But that 
queen died in the year 173, leaving her throne to her son, 
still quite young, and under the care of the prime minis- 
ters. The regent sent a deputation to Antiochus, to urge 
their claim, and demand of him the restoration of the pro- 
vinces in dispute, not only on account of the original par- 
tition, but also because they had been given to Ptolemy 
Epiphanes as the dower of his wife, who, being now dead, her 
claims descended to her son, the young king. But Anti- 
ochus denied both these claims, declaring, first, that the 
original partition, if ever made, had been annulled by the 
successful conquest of his father, and that the dowry was 
a pure fiction, which he would not acknowledge. Soon after 
this, the coronation of Ptolemy Philometor took place, 
though he was but fifteen years of age. On that occasion, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 181 

Antiochus was represented by his minister Appolonius, who 
made a league with Egypt to remain at peace. Yet he 
proceeded immediately to fortify the coast of Palestine as 
far as Joppa, and made all preparation for a war of inva- 
sion. In the year 171, he invaded Egypt with a small 
army. 

The Eomans had warned him against any encroachment 
upon the rights of Ptolemy, but Antiochus believed that 
the Eomans were sufficiently occupied with the war in which 
they were engaged in Macedon. He therefore disregarded 
this admonition, and marched upon Pelusium. Here he 
met the army of the. young Ptolemy. He engaged it in 
battle near Mount Cassius, defeated the Egyptians, and 
put a garrison into the fortress at this place,"by which he 
was enabled to keep a check upon the Egyptians, and pre- 
vent them from invading him. This was his first expedition 
into Egypt, which fulfilled the words of the prophet : ''And 
after the league made with him,'' [with Ptolemy Philo- 
metor, at the time of the coronation], '' he shall work de- 
ceitfully.'^ 

While he pretended friendship, and a desire for peace, he 
was making great preparation for a war of invasion. ♦* For 
he shall come up and shall become strong with a small 
I people." His army was small compared with the one 
I brought afterward on his subsequent invasion of Egypt. 
He became strong, successful, triumphant over his opponent. 
After this, he returned to winter quarters in Syria. 
1 In the spring of the year 170, Antiochus invaded Egypt 
jboth by sea and land, and marched into the heart of the 
country, capturing Memphis and almost all the principal 
Icities except Alexandria. It was in this campaign that he 
, captured Philometor, and the people," supposing he had 
attached himself to Antiochus, placed upon the throne his 
brother, afterwards called Physcon. Philometor was soon 



182 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

set at liberty, but remained with Antiochus, and they botli 
ate at the same table. Many of the cities, seeing the 
feebleness of the government at Alexandria, and the power 
of Antiochus, submitted peacefully to him, and gave him 
the fattest of the land, without resistance. The treasures 
he took in this campaign were very freely distributed 
among the officers and soldiers of his army. Thus, " he shall 
enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of tlie province, 
and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, or his 
fathers' fathers — he shall scatter among them the prey and 
the spoils, and the riches ; and he shall forecast devices 
against the strongholds even, for a time ; and he shall stir 
up his power and his courage against the king of the south, 
with a great army; and the king of the south shall be 
stirred up to battle, with a very great and mighty army, 
but he shall not stand. For they shall forecast devices 
against him — yea, they that feed upon the portion of his 
meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow, and 
many shall fall down slain. And both these kings' hearts 
shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one 
table, but it shall not prosper, for yet the end shall be the 
time appointed. They that ate of the portion of the meat 
of the king of Egypt shall destroy him and his government, 
and the army (of Antiochus) shall overflow Egypt, and slay 
many people." 

Just at this time a revolt in Palestine caused Antiochus 
to depart from Egypt in order to see to matters in his own 
country. He therefore established a strong garrison at 
Pelusium, and returned into Asia. 

Having accomplished there his purposes, and learning 
that Egypt had placed upon the throne the younger brother 
of Philometor, he again marched into that country, under 
the pretext that he was going to place Philometor on the 
throne, instead of his brother. The third expedition of 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 183 

Antiochus into Egypt was about B. C. 168. Between the 
second and third expeditions, Philometor remained at Mem- 
phis, while his brother resided at Alexandria. To Memphis 
Antiochus again repaired with a large army. He also sent 
a navy to block up the mouths of the rivers, and aid, if 
possible, in capturing Alexandria. It was at this time that 
the embassadors interposed their efforts to negotiate for 
peace, which proved unsuccessful. After this failure, Phy- 
scon and his sister fled to Eome for aid, which was speedily 
granted them. 

Antiochus, having attacked Alexandria without success, 
retired to Memphis, placing the government nominally in 
the hands of Philometor, but in reality retaining it in his 
own. He kept the garrison of Pelusium, and retired him- 
self to Antioch. Thus ended the third expedition. 

Immediately after the close of this expedition, the bro- 
thers came to a reconciliation, and agreed to reign jointly, 
and unite their strength to defend Egypt against the am- 
bitious schemes of their uncle. 

"And both these kings' hearts (Antiochus and Philo- 
metor) shall be to do mischief.'' Antiochus professed to 
be only desirious to establish Philometor on the throne ; 
whereas, he intended to destroy him, and take the kingdom 
to himself — while Philometor professed to have all confi- 
dence in the good intentions of his uncle, yet was desirous 
to get rid of him, and assert his independence. *' But it 
shall not prosper." Antiochus shall not get Egypt. Neither 
will Philometor, at present, have undisputed possession of 
the throne, for " The end shall be at the appointed time." 
Both of these kings belong to the Kingdom of Brass, as 
the third beast, whose end must come, and the fourth take 
their place. Therefore Eome will not have to interfere, 
thus preparing the way at the end of the time appointed. 



181 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

" Then shall he (Antiochus) return to his own land with 
great riches." 

" At the time appointed, he (Antiochus) shall return, and 
come toward the south (toward Egypt), but it shall not be 
as the former or the latter expedition, for the ships of Chittim 
(Rome) shall come against him, therefore he shall be 
grieved in return.'^ Dan. xi, 29, 30. 

" And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and 
shall afflict Asher, and shall afflict Eber, and he (Eber, or 
the Israelites) shall perish forever." Numb, xxiv, 24. 

The quarrel between Egypt and Syria was the same long 
mooted question of the possession of Palestine and Phoe- 
nicia, to decide which Antiochus had gone beyond the bounds 
of those countries, and invaded Egypt. Being successful, 
his ambition aspired to govern all that country. He, how- 
ever, pretended that his only purpose was to aid his nephew 
against his brother. But his real object was to dethrone 
both. Instead, therefore, of being pleased that they were 
united peaceably upon the throne, he threw off all disguise 
and declared himself their enemy, and invaded Egypt the 
fourth time. It was then that the Roman deputies, three 
in number, defying all his power, bade him, in the name 
of the senate, to depart immediately from Egypt, which 
command he dared not disobey. And it was not this time 
as in the former expedition. 

The relation of Antiochus to the Jews next demands our 
attention. 

SECTION II. — ANTIOCHUS AND THE JEWS. 

'• And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed 
exceeding great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the 
pleasant land." 

When Antiochus Epiphanes ascended the throne of Syria, 
Palestine was subject to him. Since the return of the Jews 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 185 

from the great captivity tliey liad been governed by their 
high priests, who were usually tributary to some of the sur- 
rounding nations, who constantly quarreled for the possession 
of that province. The office of the high priest, which had 
been the prize of ambition among themselves, became the 
cause of many of their calamities. 

At this time one Onias was high priest, and his brother 
desired his place. Jason immediately repaired to Antioch, 
and marking the vile character of Antiochus, concluded to 
strike a bargain with him. He offered the king, for the 
revenues of Palestine, three hundred and sixty talents, 
equal in value to about four hundred and fifty thousand dol- 
lars, with eighty talents more, (or about sixty thousand 
dollars), on condition that he should be made high priest. 
The offer was accepted. Onias was deposed, and Jason 
placed in the highest religious seat, by the authority of a 
pagan king. This was about 174 B. C. Onias was what 
the Jews of that day would have called a very godly man ; 
that is, he was zealous for the customs of his fathers, and 
the ritual of the Jews' religion. Jason was of a very dif- 
erent spirit ; he cared little for any religion, but sought the 
office for the emoluments thereof. By extortion and avarice 
he accumulated great wealth, but being desirous to maintain 
his popularity with the king of Syria, he corrupted the faith 
and practice of his fathers, and introduced many heathen 
notigns into the service of the temple. 

Two years only did Jason enjoy the ofiice he obtained by 
bribery. In 172, he sent his younger brother, Menelaus, 
to Antioch to pay the tribute, and the latter succeeded in 
supplanting him, jiist as he had done Onias, by offering a 
bribe. This second change in the high priesthood caused a 
tumult in Jerusalem, in which some lives were lost, and 
among others Onias was murdered. But Menelaus firmly 
16 



186 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

established himself in the office, where he committed many 
acts of sacrilege and profanity. 

During the residence of Antiochus at Tyre, between his 
first and second expedition into Egypt, the Sanhedrin sent a 
deputation of three men to him to complain of the impiety 
of the high priest. AYe should in our day think it a strange 
proceeding, to accuse and try a priest or bishop of a Chris- 
tian church before a pagan king, especially for the crime of 
heterodoxy or informality in religious ceremonies. But so 
degenerated had become the Jewish church, that the highest 
offices of the priesthood were bought and sold in pagan 
markets, and pagans decided church quarrels ; thus preparing 
the way to set up the abomination that maketh desolate 
and pollutes all that remains of virtue in the church. An- 
tiochus heard the case, gave judgment against the accused, 
and was about to pass sentence of death upon him, but 
another actor in this trial appeared upon the stage. 

When Ptolemy Epiphanes died he left one Ptolemy 
Macron, governor of Cyprus. During the minority of Philo- 
metor, Macron withheld from the treasury all the revenues 
of Cyprus. Eor this he was accused of fraud, but the min- 
istry tried in vain to get possession of those funds. The 
truth was that Macron was a faithful officer and worthy of 
all praise. He understood the profligate character of the 
ministry, and knew that if the treasures were given to them 
they would be imprudently squandered. He therefore 
retained the funds in his own hands ; but when Philometor 
took the control of the government for himself. Macron 
repaired to Egypt, and delivered up the money which he had 
preserved for the young king. Here was a man of noble 
soul and faithful purpose, traduced and abused by the min- 
istry, who were far less worthy than himself. Had he been 
duly appreciated, and treated according to his merit, Egypt 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 187 

might have found in him a valuable friend in her subsequent 
times of need. The ministry could not endure the pres- 
ence of a man whose virtue was a constant rebuke to 
their dislionesty. Macron was ill-treated and abus d by the 
ministry, and the young king had not firmness and honesty 
enough to defend his faithful servant. The affection of 
Macron was wounded, and turned into hate. Alas ! how 
often are the best friends of a cause driven to forsake it by 
the abuse of unworthy men, who control it ? Macron con- 
cluded that he served an unworthy master ; that there was 
no merit in being faithful to one who did not himself possess 
the virtue of faithfulness. He therefore delivered the pos- 
session of the island to Antiochus, which was at that time a 
great favor, for which Macron was rewarded by being made 
governor over all Celo-Syria and Palestine. Macron was at 
Tyre, at the trial of Menelaus. The offender was from a 
province over which Macron was Governor. It was therefore 
natural that he should have something to say. Macron and 
Menelaus seemed to have been friends. The governor inter- 
ceded for the prisoner. Antiochus, more intent on pleasing 
his favorite, than protecting goodness or punishing offenses, 
pardoned the culprit, and caused the three deputies who had 
accused him, to be put to death as false witnesses. The 
Tyrians seemed to have more respect for justice, for they 
buried the bodies of the deputies in an honorable manner. 
Let all men learn the fate of those who upon religious ques- 
tions appeal to civil power, and govern themselves accord- 
ingly. 

PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS. 

While Antiochus was besieging Alexandria, in his second 
expedition to that country, a rumor reached Jerusalem that 
he had been slain. Since the death of the three deputies at 
Tyre, the Jews had not esteemed Antiochus very highly. 



188 THE KINGDOM OF BEASS. 

When therefore they received this false intelligence, they 
made great rejoicings, which were accompanied with some 
acts of violence. Jason thought this a good occasion to 
recover the office from which he had heen suspended. He 
accordingly marched upon Jerusalem with a small army of 
but little more than one thousand men, made himself mas- 
ter of the city, drove out Menelaus, who retired to the 
citadel, and established himself in power. He practiced 
all manner of cruelty, and put to death many innocent per- 
sons, whom he suspected of opposition to his violent mea- 
sures. 

It does not appear that the Jews contemplated any 
rebellion against Antiochus. They only desired to regulate 
the office of liigh-priest. When Antiochus heard of these 
transactions, he concluded that all Palestine had rebelled 
against him, and to quell this rebellion, he at that time 
left Egypt. 

Exasperated at this rejoicing for his supposed death, he 
marched to Jerusalem, besieged the city, captured it, and 
gave up the innocent inhabitants to slaughter. Eighty 
thousand men were slain, and forty thousand captured and 
sold into slavery. Menelaus, who was witli him, led Anti- 
ochus into the temple, even to the holy of holies, where he 
polluted the sanctuary. He carried off the altar of incense, 
the table of shew-bread, and the seven golden candlesticks, 
with other sacred vessels. He also- plundered the whole 
city and country, and then returned to Antioch, laden with 
the spoils of Egypt and Judea. 

He reappointed Menelaus high-priest, Philip of Phrygia, 
governor of Judea, and Andronicus, governor of Samaria — 
three as wicked men as could well have been selected. This 
robbery and pollution of the temple was the event foretold 
by Daniel : " And it, the little horn (Antiochus), waxed 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 189 

great even to the hosts of heaven, and it cast down some 
of the host and the stars to the ground, and stamped upon 
them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of 
the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and 
the place of the sanctuary cast down, and a host was given 
him against the daily sacrifice, by reason of transgression, 
and it cast down the truth to the ground, and it practiced 
and prospered [how long ?] unto two thousand three hun- 
dred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.'' Dan. viii, 
9-14. 

This occured in the year 120 B. C. The cleansing of the 
sanctuary has been supposed to refer to some great event 
to take place about this time. Eev. William Miller com- 
puted the time to expire in 1843. Modern adventists sup- 
posed the event would occur in 1855, while millenarians 
say the time will run out in 1866. All these computations 
are based upon the inference that a day signifies a year. 
This is sometimes the correct use of the term day, but 
manifestly not always. When should the time expire by 
that calculation ? AVill it be two thousand three hundred 
years from the time the vision was seen by Daniel? This 
vision occurred in the third year of the reign of Belshazar, 
which was five hundred and fifty-five years before the birth 
of Christ. Then the event should have transpired long 
ago. Let us state it thus : 

2300 the length of the vision. 
555 the vision given. 



1745 
So that the event should have transpired one hundred and 
eleven years ago. But no remarkable event occured at 
that time. 
:: Did the time begin with the event of taking away the 



190 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

sacrifice, and polluting the temple? Then the figures 
should stand thus : 

2300 
170 



2130 
Then the time will not elapse until about two thousand one 
hundred and thirty, about two hundred and seventy-five 
years yet in the future. Is it not probable that all these 
are false calculations, and that in this instance, a day does 
not mean a year ? In the tenth chapter of Daniel, we are 
told that the Prince of Persia resisted tlie angel one and 
twenty days, and until the Prince of Grecia came. In this 
instance a day signifies a decade of years, and the onie and 
twenty days refers to the two hundred and ten years of the 
power of the Persian Empire, beginning five hundred and 
forty years before the birth of Christ, or the defeat of all 
the great armies of Babylon, ten years before the taking 
of the city, and ending in three hundred and thirty, when 
Alexander took the capital of the Persian Empire, and 
burned it to the ground. 

The two thousand three hundred days may, and probably 
does, mean literal days. This would occupy about seven 
years, and end exactly with the death of Antiochus, who, 
in his last agonies, revoked his decree against the Jews, 
and although his successor did not much respect that decree, 
the Jews then commenced again the services in the temple, 
1G4 B. C, under the government of Antiochus Eupator. 

A former chapter closed with the return of Antiochus 
from Egypt, the fourth time, at the bidding of the Eoman 
deputies. Exasperated at the failure of all his great 
schemes of aggrandizement, he was in no very good frame 
of mind toward any of his subjects, but his especial 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 191 

indignation was against the Jews. It does not appear what 
new provocation they had given him, if any. As his army 
marched along near the sea-coast, on his direct route to 
Antioch, he detached Appolonius, with his two thousand 
men to destroy Jerusalem. The year previously he had 
razed the temple ; now he prepared to exterminate the 
city. The commander arrived in the midst of the night, 
and exhibited no disposition to do harm. He thus quieted 
the fears of the inhabitants. The Sabbath approached — 
that day for the sanctity of which the Jews, ever since the 
great captivity, had great reverence — but they repaired not 
to the temple that had been polluted two years before. No 
morning and evening sacrifices ascended thence to the God 
of Israel. The golden altar had been removed. No light 
from the seven golden candlesticks was there. But the 
abomination which maketh desolate had been set up. The 
high-priest was the corrupt creature of a pagan king. Syna- 
gogues had been reared in many parts of the city and vicin- 
age, where multitudes, leaving the temple, convened to hear 
the law read and expounded to them, to sing hymns of praise, 
and offer humble prayers to the God of Israel. On that day 
the solemn chant of heavenly song was disturbed by other 
sounds — the groans of the dying, the screams of the 
wounded, the clash of arms, and the shouts of combatants, 
rent the air. Appolonius, obedient to his orders, fell upon 
the unsuspecting people, in the midst of their devotion, and 
put them to death. 'J'he army fell upon them and cut them 
to pieces, and the women and children were sold as slaves. 
Not a man that fell in their way was spared. The streets 
flowed with human blood, while the soldiers plundered the 
houses of the butchered inhabitants. After this, several 
parts of the city were set on fire. Of the ruined houses, 
they took materials and built fortresses on the hill of Zion, 
which would command and overlook the temple. There 



192 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

they stored the plunder, with all the implements of war, 
and from this garrison they went out, and attacked and 
slew such of the people from the country as came up to the 
city to worship. 

Many were slain in and around the temple, and their 
carcases thrown among the ruins, the more completely to 
pollute the holy place. Some writers suppose that this is 
the time from w4iich we ought to date the abomination, and 
that from this time (instead of ten years before), the morn- 
ing and evening sacrifices had been discontinued. But this is 
hardly possible, since the golden altar, on which alone the 
daily sacrifices was offered, was carried otf on the previous 
occasion. " Then shall he be grieved, and return and have 
indignation against the holy covenant '^ (with Menelaus 
and his associates, who corrupted the religion of their 
fathers). 

Having returned to his regal city, Antiochus conceived 
the idea of establishing uniformity of religion. He pub- 
lished a decree, that all the different people in his kingdom 
should lay aside the ancient faith, and worship the same 
gods and in the same manner as did the king. His king- 
dom then embraced Parthia, Media, Elam, and many other 
nations, whose religions were as diversified as their lan- 
guages. Some of the Eastern tribes were worshipers of 
the sun and of the sacred fire. The king's religion was 
that of the ancient pagan Greeks. This decree, although 
general in its terms, was intended specially to annoy the 
Jews. Commissioners were sent into all the provinces to 
put this decree into execution ; but we do not hear of its 
enforcement throwing any place in commotion, except 
Judea. It may not have been enforced or even attempted 
elsewhere, and was probably only proposed to cover up the 
tyranny which was used against the Jews. The Jewish 
historians say that no people were more ready to comply 



THE KINGDOxM OF BRASS. 193 

with this request th^in were the Samaritans, who, from a 
deep-seated hatred to the Jews, .their neighbors, (of a common 
stock of Israel), were anxious to see them exterminated. 
They had built a temple upon Mount Gerizim, but had not 
dedicated it to any particular deity. They ^presented a 
petition to Antiochus, in which, after denying that they 
were Jews, they asked permission to dedicate their temple 
to the Grecian god, Jupiter, and call it after the king's 
name, Antiochia. Their petition was received and the 
request granted, and the deputy governor instructed not 
to disturb them in any manner. The Samaritans and 
many of the apostate Jews joined with Antiochus, and be- 
came the most cruel persecutors of their brethren. It 
must be recollected that the hatred between the Jews and 
Samaritans was mutual, and that the Jewish writers being 
prejudiced have probably colored the offenses of the Sama- 
ritans, higher than the truth would bear. 

We have here the Samaritans living in Samaria three 
hundred and seventy years after the return of the Jews 
from captivity, and only one hundred and sixty-eight years 
before the birth of Christ. May we not safely infer, that 
the ten last tribes returned from this captivity at the same 
time with the Jews, and that those who adhered to the faith 
became commingled with that people, losing their identity, 
and thus fulfilling the prophecy of Ezekiel, that the two 
sticks should become one stick, having thus lost their 
national identity, and that the apostate Samaritans became 
merged in the Syrian nation. Hence, is it more than an 
illusion to seek for the lost ten tribes among the Anglo- 
Saxons or the American Indians, or anywhere else? 

Of the operation of this decree upon the Jews, Eollin 

thus speaks : The commissioner who was sent into Judea 

and Samaria to see the king's decree punctually obeyed, 

was called x^thenaeus, a man advanced in years, and 

17 



f94 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

extremely well-versed in the ceremonies of the Grecian 
idolatry. He had been, for that reason, judged a most fit 
person to invite a strange nation to join in it. Imme- 
diately upon his arrival at Jerusalem, he began his opera- 
tions, by putting a stop to the sacrifices which were offered 
up to the God of Israel, and suppressing all the observ- 
ances of the Jewish law. They polluted the temple in 
such a manner that it was no longer fit for the worship 
of God ; profaned the Sabbath and other festivals ; forbade 
the circumcision of children, and carried off and burned all 
the copies of the law upon which they could lay hands. 
They abolished all the ordinances of God in every part of 
the country, and put to death whoever was found to have 
acted contrary to the decree of the king. The Syrian 
soldiers and the commissioners who commanded over them, 
were the chief instruments by which the Jews were con- 
verted to the religion professed by the sovereign. To 
establish it the sooner in every part of the nation, altars 
and chapels filled with idols were erected in every city, and 
sacred groves were planted. Officers were appointed to 
these, who caused all the people in general to offer sacri- 
fices in them every month, on the day of the month on 
which the king was born. They forced them to eat the 
flesh of swine, and other unclean animals sacrificed there. 
The officers of the king, in their effort to compel the Jews 
to abandon their religion, met with a spirited resistance. 
Many lives were lost on both sides; among others, Mat- 
thias, the father of Judas Maccabseus, was slain, after a 
manful and heroic resistance. 

In 167, tidings of this resistance reached the king at 
Antioch. He marched into Judea, determined to subdue 
his rebellious subjects. In this he was, however, entirely 
unsuccessful, although he committed many acts of cruelty 
too horrible to relate. It was in this expedition that he 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 195 

executed Eleazar, a man of ninety years, venerable for his 
piety and his deference for tlie faith of his fathers. At the 
same time was put to death, by cruel torments, a mother 
aud her seven sons, spoken of in the Maccabees. Many 
of the heroic deeds of the Jews, at this and subsequent 
times, are recorded by tliose authors who are very far from 
being accurate as impartial historians. Their statements, 
though marvelous and exceedingly interesting, and per- 
haps, in general, founded on fact, must be taken by the 
inquirer after truth, with liberal allowance for national 
and religious partiality. There is, however, no doubt that 
the Jews, ever tenacious of their religion and obstinate 
toward their foes, resisted most nobly the unreasonable 
demands of the pagan monarch, and, favored by the 
Supreme Being, were victorious against vastly superior 
numbers. The reader will find a more full history of 
these deeds in the authors just referred to, and can attach 
as much importance to them as he may think they merit. 
I shall here only give the most authentic and prominent 
events in these campaigns. 

The history of the past should teach modern church and 
statesmen and religious persecutors, and all politicians, 
that it is impossible to crush OUT a conscientious resist- 
ance to an odious and unjust law. 

When Antiochus had drenched all Judea with the blood 
of its martyred inhabitants, without producing the desired 
effect, he returned to Antioch to attend to matters in rela- 
tion to the Eomans and other nations. An account of this 
is reserved for the third section of his life. Thus ended 
the persecution, B. C. 167. 

While Antiochus was thus occupied, Judas Maccabee was 
fast recovering all the important posts and fortresses held 
by the Syrians. Appolonias, governor of Samaria, and 
Seron, another officer, each with a strong army, attempted 



196 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

to check his progress, but were both defeated with a great 
destruction of their men and the loss of theii- own lives. 
Antiochus hearing of the defeat of the two armies, and the 
death of his two officers, was exceedingly enraged, and 
determined to re-visit Judea and exterminate the whole race. 
He was, however, prevented from going there in person, 
for his treasures were well nigh exhausted, and disturbances 
had broken out in Armenia and Persia, which required his 
presence in those countries. 

"But tidings out of the east, (Persia), and out of the 
north, (Armenia), shall trouble him ; therefore, he shall 
go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly make away 
many." He therefore, in 160 B. C, divided his forces, 
taking one army with him into the north and into the east. 
The other he committed to Lysias, a prince of royal blood, 
whom he appointed his deputy at Antioch, w^ith specific 
instruction to exterminate the Jews, so that their lands 
might be given to other people, among whom they were to 
be divided by lot. He was anxious to fulfill this mission, 
but hearing of the army of Judas he became alarmed. 
Philip the Phrygian was at this time governor of Judea, 
and Ptolemy Macron of Celo-Syria. Lysias sent an army to 
the aid of Philip, and appointed Macron commander-in- 
chief, and Nicanor, a particular friend, Lieutenant. They, 
with Gorbias, a distinguished officer, marched into Judea 
with forty thousand foot and seven thousand horse, and 
encamped at Emaus. Another and a very singular group 
were also collected there. More than a thousand merchants 
of great wealth, from different nations, had assembled here 
to buy the captives who they expected would be taken and 
sold. Nicanor had advertised extensively that these cap- 
tives should be sold into slavery at the rate of ninety for 
a talent, by which he intended to raise the sum of two 
thousand talents which the king owed to the Romans. 



THE KINGDOM OP ' BRASS. 197 

This would require the sale of one hundred and eighty 
thousand slaves. As it was the intention to cut to pieces 
all the able-bodied men, and only spare and sell the women 
and children, we may form some idea of the extent of their 
anticipated conquest. But the game was not yet caught. 
Oh, what a gathering was this. How unlike this the scenes 
enacted in Emaus when, two hundred years later, two lowly 
disciples, in the evening shade, walked with disconsolate 
spirit from Jerusalem to Emaus, their hearts burning by 
the way, as the Master spake unto them. Judas, aware 
of the eminent danger to which he was exposed, gathered 
up his small army of about six thousand soldiers and 
repaired to Neshap, the Nispa where Samuel of olden time 
worshiped, before the temple of Solomon was built. Here 
they performed divine worship, and implored the aid of the 
Supreme Being. After dismissing one-half of his soldiers, 
who were either afraid or had some legal excuse for not 
eno^ao'iua: in war, he marched with the remainins; three 
thousand and encamped in the vicinity of his enemies. In 
the night season, Gorbias, guided by an apostate Jew, led 
out several thousand of the best of the soldiers, and 
attempted by a secret pass in the mountains to fall by 
surprise on this handful of men. Judas was apprised of 
this, and after the detachment had left the camp, he fell 
suddenly upon the body of the enemy, who, taken by sur- 
prise, and deceived by the darkness of the night, were 
thrown into utter confusion. A vast number of them were 
slain and the rest dispersed. Gorbias not finding Judas as 
he expected, returned and found his own camp in flames, 
the body of his army dispersed, and Judas triumphant. 
His men threw down tlieir arms and fled. Judas pursued 
them, and slew in the flight, of those and the main army, 
about nine thousand men. Then returning to the camp, he 
collected a large amount of plunder, and also caj^tured the 



198 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

slave merchants, who, instead of buying slaves, were them- 
selves sold into slavery. Their money was confiscated to 
the treasury of Judas. The next day being sabbath, was 
celebrated with solemn joy and thanksgiving. This victory 
encouraged many others to join the army of Judas, so that 
with his increased force he was able to pursue the different 
branches of the retreating enemy, and in other battles won 
several victories, and slew twenty thousand men. Thus 
ended the campaign of 166 B. C, to be revived again the 
next year. 

WAR CONTINUED. — B. C. 165. 

The campaign of the preceding year against Judea, had 
closed with the defeat and almost annihihition of the Syrian 
army. Dismay filled the court of Antiochus. The king 
was still in the east. The viceroy had not been able to 
obey the royal instructions regarding the extermination of 
the Jews. Lysias felt the necessity of doing something to 
sustain his own position, and retrieve the honor of the army 
under his charge ; but he had not yet learned that he was 
fighting against the Most High. He was beginning to 
experience that it was hard to kick against the pricks. He 
again raised a large army for the conquest of Judea. This 
army consisted of sixty thousand foot, and five thousand 
horse ; the very last troops that Syria could produce. At 
the head of this army he proceeded southward, pregnant 
with the resolution to exterminate the Jews. Passing 
around Jerusalem, he encamped about ten miles south of 
that city, at Bethima, in the borders of Idumea. Judas 
still lived to defend the lives, liberty, property, and religion 
of his countrymen. 

Elated with the victory of tlie preceding year, and 
animated by the enthusiasm of a religious belief, that Deity 
had special respect for him, and would aid him, he marched 
upon the invader with about ten thousand men. The 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 199 

contending parties were soon engaged in battle. The frantic 
entluisiasin of the Jews made them desperate. They rushed 
upon the foe with impetuosity, slew five thousand of their 
enemies, threw the whole army into confusion, and caused 
a precipitate flight of the wliole Syrian band. Lysias in 
dismay at the valor of the Jews, and the defeat of his army, 
retreated with such of the remnant of his forces as he could 
collect, to Antioch, threatening to revisit Judea the next 
year. But the next year brought a new master to Syria. 
And thus closed so much of the public life of Antiochus 
Epiphanes, as relates to the Jews. 

SEC. III. — SYRIA DURING THE REIGN OF EPIPHANES. 

The city of Antioch had now been the royal residence of 
the kings of Syria, from the time of Seleucus Nicator, about 
one hundred and twenty-five years. Nearly every monarch 
of Syria had contended with Egypt, about the possession of 
the intermediate countries, and in these contests spent a vast 
amount of human life and treasure, but ever leavino- the 
quarrel just as they found it, to be settled by some future 
appeal to arms. Antiochus the Great had used every care 
to possess himself of it, but without success. Epiphanes 
now determined to accomplish the desired task, and would 
probably have succeeded, but for foreign interference. Kome 
had now risen, not only to take her place among the nations, 
but be the umpire between them, to decide their quarrel, 
sometimes indeed, according to equity and the interests of 
human liberty, but more frequently according to the dictates 
of her own selfish interests. Greece was already under the 
Eoman protection, Macedon and Eome were engaged in 
war during the entire year of the reign of Epiphanes, but 
before the close of his life, Max^edon yielded up the ghost, 
and l)ecame also a Eoman province. Eome did not desire to 
see any other nation extend its empire and increase its 



200 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

power, lest it should become too strong and endanger the 
independence, or perhaps become the rival of herself. For 
tliis reason she had checked these ambitious schemes, and 
finally subdued Antiochus the Great, when he labored for 
the conquest of the provinces in Egypt, and four times invaded 
tliat country for the purpose of annexing it to Syria. 

At this time Physcon and Cleopatra fled to Eome and 
presented their petition. The Roman Senate, not so much 
out of pity to Egypt, as jealousy of the great power of 
Syria, espoused the cause of Ptolemy. The result is already 
recorded. Rome persuaded the Syrians to remain in Egypt, 
and Antiochus obeyed. His schemes of ambition were all 
blown away, just as those of his fathers had ever been ; yet 
he learned no lesson of wisdom by the experience of genera- 
tions. Then commenced his campaign against the Jews. 
The Greeks had their temples, their imaginary gods, and 
their religious festivals, which consisted in games of athletic 
exercise, and hand and foot races, or what we might in these 
days call gambling, in honor of the gods. Other peculiari- 
ties of the services were much like the modern performance 
in theaters. The Persian mythology differed but little from 
that of the Greeks. 

Paulus iEmilius, the Roman officer at the head of the 
Macedonian affairs, after the conquest of that country, cele- 
brated the games as they were called, at Amphipolis, on the 
Strymon, with great pomp and solemnity — if ostentatious 
show can be called solemnity. Epiphanes was desirous to do 
the same thing at Daphne, the locality of the temple of 
Apollo and Diana. He sent abroad invitations for multi- 
tudes to collect for the celebration. Immense numbers con- 
gregated. Many days were devoted to carousals in honor 
of the gods. If in this celebration Epiphanes had any 
object whatever, it must have been, first, to rival Rome, as a 
matter of pride, and secondly, for the mere gratification of 



I 



THE KINGDOM OP BRASS. 201 

his sensuality, for he regarded no religion nor god except his 
own will. It was while contemplating this great festival, 
that lie determined upon the wild and unparalleled project of 
creating, hy law, uniformity of religion throughout his king- 
dom. In the celehation of this festival, Epiphanes behaved 
so shamelessly, and associated with such obscene women and 
men, that multitudes of virtuous citizen, as well as strangers 
from all parts of the world, left in disgust at his abominable 
vileness. This was the man whom Daniel calls vile. The 
debauch, for such it properly ought to be called, cost im- 
mense sums of money, exhausting his treasury, and embar- 
rassing him in raising an army to invade the Jews. 

Eome did not lose sight of Syria ; she observed all the 
movements there with Argus eyes. For this purpose 
Tiberius Gradias was sent to Antioch, to keep an eye upon 
passing events. He arrived just at the close of the great 
religious festival. Syria owed Eome a large amount of 
money ; this was demanded, but the treasury was empty ; its 
contents had been squandered in rioting. The war against 
the Jews was at hand. Just at this time arose a new 
trouble — for misfortunes usually combine and unite their 
forces against man, when he abandons himself to intem- 
perance and carousing. 

Bad tidings from the East and from the North. Armenia, 
lying nearly north and east of Syria, had long been subject 
to this country, and paid an annual tribute into its treasury. 
Antaxias was the local governor of Armenia. He, with his 
people, rebelled against Epiphanes, and set up his independ- 
ence. Persia lying east of Syria, also at that time refused 
to pay tribute, and sought to throw off the yoke of depend- 
ence. Both these rebellions were probably the consequence 
of the mal-administration of Epiphanes, whose time was 
wasted between a fruitless attempt to couquer Egypt, and 
idle dissipation at home, entirely neglecting such careful and 



202 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

judicious regulation of his provinces as was necessary. He 
had not learned the true political economy, that to take 
care of what one has, and develop its resources, will fill a 
treasury faster than the attainment of foreign power, diffi- 
cult and costly to hold. It was to reclaim these rebellious 
provinces in the north and east that Epiphanes marched in 
this direction, leaving Lysias to administer affairs in his 
place at home. 

Let us follow- this vile hero in his expedition. Soon after 
the close of the festival, which, it will he recollected, was 
in the year 166, Epiphanes invaded Armenia, conquered 
the whole country, and took Antaxias prisoner. Armenia 
is a cold, mountainous country, not very productive nor 
abounding in wealth. Epiphanes, although he was triumph- 
ant in arms, did not enrich his exhausted treasury by his 
success ; but he hoped for the same success in Persia. 

Early in 165, Epiphanes marched into Persia. He met 
with some success in reclaiming his revolted subjects, and 
was occupied in arranging the taxes of that country, when 
he heard of the defeat of his armies in Judea. This filled 
him with exceeding wrath. Finding it impossible to collect 
any revenue from his best but oppressed subjects in Persia, 
he determined to try pillage. Elymses, a city of Media, 
was the site of a famous temple, dedicated to Diana, and, 
as some say, to Venus — that is, the goddesses of hunting 
and of lust. This temple was known to abound in treasures 
consecrated to religious worship. 

To Elym?es, Epiphanes repaired, and besieged the city, 
intending to pollute the temple. The inhabitants, both of 
city and country, rendered desperate at the prospect of so 
great a sacrilege, came together in vast multitudes, and 
fell impetuously upon the army of the king, defeating and 
dispersing the entire host. Without obtaining the prize, 
he retired with his army. In addition to the mortification 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

of this repulse, it will be remembered, he had heard of the 
defeat and slaiigliter of his army in Palestine, bj Judas 
Maccabseus. Full of wrath, and determined to make the 
Jews feel the weight of his displeasure, he led his forces to 
the west. He arrived at Babylonia, where the particulars 
of the fall and terrible defeat of Lysias were told, him, 
which, already excited as he was, brought him almost to 
insanity. Threatening to make Jerusalem the burying 
place of the whole .Jewish nation, he ordered his coachman 
to drive with all possible speed. In the very moment of 
uttering his threats, he was seized with most severe colic, 
which the Jewish rulers thought was the direct judgment 
of God upon him, for his cruelty to their nation. Still he 
ordered all possible speed to be made, on the journey home- 
ward, that he might not die before he could wreak his ven- 
geance upon the Jews. Driving furiously along, he was 
thrown from his carriage, and dreadfully bruised by the 
fall, which, in connection with his previous malady, greatly 
disabled him, and filled his body with excrutiating pain. 
He was placed upon a litter, and borne upon the shoulders 
of his servants. But his bruises mortified, and his body 
became full of sores — his intestines, as well as externally. 
Hovering between the living and the dead, he was thus car- 
ried along for some days. The stench of his body became 
almost unendurable to his attendants and the whole army. 
In his unutterable anguish, ho called one of his officers, and 
acknowledged that there was a God in Israel mightier than 
man, that his suff'erings were the penalty of his cruelties, 
and that he could not contend with the Almighty. He now 
made solemn vows that if the God of heaven would restore 
him to health, he would revoke all the edicts against the 
Jews, and even become a Jew, and worship the true God. 
How vain are all resolutions and promises made upon a bed 
of sickness and death, and extorted by pain or fear, not by 



204 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

love of truth and goodness ! Perceiving' his end approach- 
ing, the king called to him Philip, a favorite, and bestowed 
upon him the regency of the government during the minor- 
ity of his son, then but nine years of age, and afterwards 
known as Antiochus Eupator. He gave some directions for 
the education of the child, laid down some general rules 
for the future 2:overnment of the kino-dom — rules which he 
had not enforced by his example — and then yielded up the 
ghost. "x\nd he shall come to his end, and none shall help 
him." 

. Thus, in the year 164 B. C, ended the reign and the life 
of the greatest persecutor, the vilest and must cruel king, 
that ever sat on the throne of Syria. Let all tyrants learn 
of him a lesson, and tremble. 

" But O, this end, this dreadful end. Thy sanctuary 
taught me so. Yet a little while, and the wicked shall 
not be.'' 



ANTIOCHUS EUPATOR, B.C. 164. 

Philip, the favorite of Epiphanes, who was with that 
monarch at the time of his death, and when he received 
the authority of prime minister and regent of the young 
prince, repaired to Antioch to fulfil the duties of his mis- 
sion. But he found another already in his place. Lysias 
had for some time had the care of the government, and 
hearing of the death of his master, placed the youthful son 
and heir on the throne, retaining, however, all the power 
and authority in liis own hands. Eupator was then but 
nine years of age. 

Lysias was not disposed to surrender his authority to 
Philip, considering that the possessor had better title than 
he. In vain did Pliilip endeavor to obtain possession of the 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 205 

authority conferred upon him by the late king. The wishes 
of a dead king, expressed in his expiring moments, in a 
foreign land, had far less influence with the nobles than the 
authority of one already in power, who had become accus- 
tomed to command. Philip repaired to Egypt, hoping to 
receive aid from the Ptolemys. 

But while all these events were transpiring in Syria, the 
two brothers in Egypt were not reigning in the most broth- 
erly harmony. They w^ere, therefore, indisposed to afford 
aid to Philip. 

The next year, Philip retired into the east, assembled 
an army of Modes and Persians, and marched suddenly upon 
Antioch, while Lysias and the youthful king were absent on 
an invasion of Judea. He attempted to establish himself 
in power, but the sudden return of his opponent to the 
capital drove the usurper out of the city, and he came to 
Tyre, where, very soon after this, he was slain. Lysias was 
thus rid of one rival, but was soon to meet another and more 
powerful one. 

A change of masters is not always a change of burdens. 
Lysias, although terribly defeated in his former wars with 
the Jews, gained now the mastery. Yet the first year of 
his reign with Eupator was spent in another fruitless cam- 
paign against that people — a full account of which is re- 
served for a section relating to the Jews. 

At the battle of Silus, many years before, Antiochus the 
Great was defeated, and compelled to negotiate for peace, 
with Rome, on most humiliating terms. Among others, he 
agreed that Syria should keep but a certain number of 
ships, and a certain number of elephants and munitions of 
war. Rome, ever jealous of the growing prosperity of that 
nation, had heard with displeasure that Syria had increased 
her military department beyond the stipulated terms. 
Three deputies, who had been instructed to visit Egypt, and 



•30() Till' KlNiniOM OV URASS. 

irv ((> tiM-iuiualo llu> (iumitcIs 1>(>(\V(«(Mi llu^ Iwo brolliora, 
\v»M(^ also <linM'lr«l to visit Syria. Mini so(» (ho (roiilics fiil- 
IIIKmI. Oil an-iviiii;" at Antioch. llirv rouiul llu> clinr^'cs to 
1)0 Inio. Tliov I'MUsotl llio oxoosM oi' .ships (o lu* ItiinnMJ, 
nuil oi' \\u' olr|)lian(s (o ho .slain. It is not sui'urisiiiu^ that 
siu-h soltish i>oli«*v, niul siu'h uimmHoss wnslo of ])roj)iM'ty, 
should (»\!isj)tM-al»> (ho |)oo|)h» ol" Syria. ^V^» can nol lind, 
n( (his (lay. any rxoiiso lor snrh innohh* oondnct on iho 
part of (lu» Uonian o'oviM-nniont. oxoi^pt in tho harharisni of 
(lu> a<;o. 

Hut in Syria, as \\kA\ as (dsv^yluMW (ho Kin^-dom of Brass 
>v;is dt'stinod lo yiold lo lha( of Iron. Si^pliinus. a oidzoil 
o\' .Vnliooh. Nv.as so (Mirai;('d al (In* d(\slruo(iou ol' propiM'tv, 
and (ho huniilialion o\' his na(ion hy fonMoiuM-s, (hat ho 
oould nol r«vs(rain his wralh. ^Vllil(* Oolavius. ono of (ho 
Koinan tloputios. was l>a(hin<i\ Soptinius loll upon him and 
killod liiiM. I.ysias. (ho i>rinu* ininis((M-. was suspoctod of 
havino- i u s( i^a I od (his d^'K^A, al(houi;"h ho ih^iiod it. and 
(luM'o was iK^ytM' any i>roor (W* his^uill. Oolavius had hoon 
oonsul in lionio. ;iud was hi<;hly osduMUiul. llis niur<lor 
v*aus»Ml o-roal iu«li«vi>M(ion. and a s(;i(ui» w.as oroi'(od (o Ills 
nuMuory. llo was (ho I'oundor of ono hranoh oi' {\\c faniily 
ol' Auii'ustus (.\'sar. haipalor siMil tMnhass.-idors (o Homo to 
jirolost (hat lu» hatl no par( in tho doath of Oolavius; hut 
iho SiMiali* soul lluMu haolv. widioul oiviuL:,- thiMU any 
answor, and rosorvod lo lhoinstdv(\s futuro aotion in (ho 
ma(tor. 0(1um' important t^vtMits trans|)iriul in tho sanio 
yoar. 

('Jno t'ondiiion of (lu* pi\uv ooncludod holwoon Antiivluia 
(ho Oroa( and (ho liomauiji was. tha( a nundtor ol' hoslaoos 
should ho sont to Ivomo as soonrity for tlu* rai(hruln(\ss oi' 
Syria [o (ho on^a^iMniMi(s into whioh (lu^y w^m'o (Iumi (Milor- 
in^'. Aniioohus Mpiphanos. (ho socond son of Antioohus tlio 
Grout, Nvaa oiio of (lioso hoiSlagos. llo roaidod in Uomo 



TFTK KINGDOM OP ITRAflfl. 307 

until the death of IjIh brother, HcU-wcwh ]'hilornot<-;r, when 
h(i returrxul to take the throue of Syria, by the aid of the 
kiri^ and ptinr-e of TergamoH, of whifh an a^yount has 
aln-jifly fj<«ri ^ivcn in tliJH history. 

DernetriuH Soter, Hon of l^Jiiloinetor, a lad of about eleven 
yearn, took hi.s pbace nnd remained thf-re until hf, wan about 
t\v<!nty-three yf-arn of ',i(r<\ 

Jt will be Been that DernotriuH Sotf;r wan a counin of 
Eupator, by an older branch of the royal family, and had 
therefore as good a title to the throne as the incumbent. 
f>('Hiring to secure his rights, he petitioned the Jlornan 
Senate for permission to return and take the throne. But 
the Uomans thought it better for their interest that Syria 
should l>e ruled by a young king, under the direction of 
ministers, than by a man of the age and talents of Deme- 
trius. They therefore lefused his jxitition, and directed 
tlieir deputies, among other things, to look aft^^r this ques- 
tion. Sometimcj subsequently, JJemetrius, against the 
advice of his friends, (among whom was Polybius, the 
historian), one more solicited the Senate for leave to 
return, and was again dr>nied. His friends ha^i a^J vised 
him not to petition, but to escape without leave. After the 
second denial, hr; took that advice, and so effectually con- 
cealed his departure, that it was not known to the Senate 
until he was far on the, way. Having taken pannage on a 
Carthaginian V(!Hsel laden with fruits and other cargo, 
bound to Phomecia, he, with a sniall retinue, landed at 
Tripoli. Although lie came a fugitive, the report spread 
that ]vOine had sent him to take pOHHesnion of the crown 
and throne of Syria, and was determined to support him. 
This was very credible, in view of the late difficulties 
about the murder of the deputy, Octavius, and the sih-nce 
of the Ptoman Senatr; on that subject. Confidence h often 
•troDger than physical power, and a rumor, however 



208 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

unfounded, destroying confidence, is often a more potent 
enemy than a mighty army. The fear of Rome was all- 
powerful in Syria. All looked upon Lysias and Eupator as 
already destroyed, and that anticipation caused the event. 
Princes, nobles, army and people forsook their sovereign, 
and joined the standard of the new claimant. The soldiers 
seized Lysias and Eupator, and delivered them to Deme- 
trius, who immediately caused them to be put to death, 
and thus, without opposition, mounted the throne, by the 
murder of his cousin, against whom there was no charge, 
nor even suspicion of crime. In the close of his own life, 
we shall see the measure meted out. to him which he has 
given to others. 



JEWISH HISTORY UNDER THE THIRD BEAST. 
At the death of Alexander, Judea, in common with a 
vast number of other provinces, was subject to the Mace- 
donians, and in the conflicts and jealousies that arose 
between the great generals of that time, Palestine was 
often the theater of their bloody strife. In these wars, 
the nation of the Jews, which at that time probably 
embraced a remnant of all the original tribes, suffered 
severely. Hostile armies traversed Palestine no less than 
ten times previous to the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, 
of Syria. That monarch invaded Judea, either in person 
or by his lieutenants, nine times, and his successors and 
others invaded the same country eleven times previous to 
the birth of Christ, and the full establishment of the fourth 
beast, making at least thirty invasions by hostile armies, in 
the space of about three hundred years, equal to a war 
once in ten years. This, it must be admitted, was far from 
being a state of peace or prosperity. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 209 

1st, 111 the year 321, and immediately after the hurial 
of Alexander, we find his generals dispersed into various 
provinces, as governors. Perdiccas, who was regent of the 
.kingdom, was in the South of Asia Minor, at the head of a 
Macedonian army. Having a dislike to Ptolemy, he deter- 
mined to invade Egypt. He marched with a devastating- 
army around the sea coast, through Palestine, producing 
confusion and suffering through all Judea, as he traversed 
their country toward the possessions of Ptolemy. Enter- 
ing Egypt, he soon perished by the hands of assassins. 
Two years of peace only to Judea was the result of his 
death. 

2d. In 319 B. C, Antigonus, having assumed the 
office of governor over Syria and its dependent provinces, 
appointed one Leomadon his lieutenant-governor in Pales- 
tine. Ptolemy claimed that Palestine belonged to Egypt ; 
he therefore marched into Judea, and defeated Leomadon, 
who was slain in battle, and recovered possession of all 
that province. The Jews, who had been accused of incon- 
stancy and rebellion, now passed to the opposite extreme. 
They resolved tenaciously to adhere to the interests of 
Syria, and refused to acknowledge Ptolemy for their master. 
He therefore marched against Jerusalem ; but owing to its 
impregnable position among the mountains, and fortified 
by works of art, it could not have been easily conquered, 
but by taking advantage of the religious observance of the 
Sabbath by the people. On that day, knowing that the Jews 
would not resist, he commenced the attack, captured the 
city, and treated the Jews with great severity. He car- 
ried captive into Egypt one hundred thousand of them; 
but afterward finding them peaceable and valuable citizens, 
he made their conditions more comfortable, taking thirty 
thousand of them into the army, and stationing them at 

18 



210 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

military forts. Here was the beginning of the introduction 
of the Jews into Egypt, where afterward some of the apoc- 
ryphal books were written, and where subsequently a 
temple was erected, and five cities of Egypt spoke the lan- 
guage of Canaan, as spoken by the prophet Isaiah. Nearly 
six years passed before Antiochus was prepared to reclaim 
these countries. 

3d. But in the year 313 he marched against the generals 
of Ptolemy, and besieged Tyre, which, after a spirited 
resistance, submitted to him ; and thus all Palestine and 
Phoenicia again changed masters. 

4th. The next year (312,) Ptolemy again invaded Pales- 
tine and Phoenicia, fought a great battle, and defeated De- 
metrius, the son of Antigonus, at Gaza, and recovered to 
Egypt the control of those countries. In this siege and 
capture of Gaza, Demetiius lost five thousand men slain, 
and eight thousand taken prisoners. The citizens of Gaza, 
chiefly Jews, suffered most severely, and great numbers of 
them were slain. 

5th. In 305, Antigonus again sent his son Demetrius to 
invade Egypt, by sailing along the coast, while he marched 
an army through Palestine, along the coast of Gaza, with 
the intention of entering Egypt by land. They succeeded 
in invading the borders of Egypt by sea and land, but the 
fleet was shattered by a storm, and the army greatly 
diminished by sickness and desertion, and checked by the 
judicious arrangements of Ptolemy. Antigonus was there- 
fore compelled to retire with the shattered fragments of 
an army, leaving Palestine still under the control of Ptol- 
emy. 

6th. In 264, the war between Magus and Ptolemy Phila- 
delphus broke out, and Antiochus Soter sympathizing with 
Magus prepared to invade Egypt. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 211 

Ptolemy marched an army into Palestine, while his fleet 
invaded the seacoast, where conflicts between the Egyptians 
and Syrians again distracted all Palestine. 

7th. In 246, occurred the war of Ptolemy Evergetes 
against Syria, on account of the divorce and murder of 
Berenice, and the death of Theos by the hands of his wife 
Laodicea. In this campaign, the hostile forces of Ptolemy 
again ravaged Judea; but, on his return home, he stopped 
at Jerusalem, offered sacrifices to the God of Israel, and 
conferred some privileges on the Jews. After this, Judea 
enjoyed a tolerable state of quiet for about forty-three 
years. 

8th. In 203, B. C, Ptolemy Philopater having died and 
left an infant heir to the throne, Antiochus the Great, 
of Syria, and Philip of Macedon entered into a league to 
conquer and divide the territory subject to the crowm of 
Egypt. In pursuance of this league, Antiochus took Pal- 
estine, conquering the whole country and capturing many 
cities, and the Jews became once more subject to Syria. 

9th. In 199, Scopas, an JEtclian general in Egypt, serv- 
ing under Ptolemy, defeated the officers of Antiochus and 
reclaimed the whole country to the crown of Egypt. 

10th. In 1 98, Antiochus again invaded Celosyria, Phoe- 
nicia and Palestine, and defeated Scopas, when all these 
countries were reverted to Syria. During the short reign 
of Seleucus Philopater, of Syria, we hear of no invasion of 
Palestine. He was succeeded by Antiochus Epiphanes, of 
whose nine invasions an account is given in the second sec- 
tion of the history of that monarch. He was succeeded by 
his son Antiochus Eupator, whose administration is fully 
given in a preceding part of this work, where it will be 
seen that, in his short reign of but two years, he, although 
but a child, by his minister Lysias, made war upon the Jews 
three times. 



212 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

It would seem that the Jews, by their bigotry and obsti- 
nacy, and their deadly hatred to other nations, drew upon 
themselves many of the calamities to which they were in 
those times exposed. When it was known in Jerusalem 
that Antiochus Epiphanes was dead, and that in his last 
moments he was favorably inclined toward the Jews, instead 
of taking advantage of these facts and seeking for peace, 
Judas Maccabseus, encouraged by the successful defense of 
his country and people, took the aggressive, and began an 
invasion of the Iturians, near Damascus, who were subject 
to Syria. There seems to have been no provocation for 
this course, except retaliation, where, too, retaliation could 
secure no benefit. The only pretext for this course was, 
that these people were Gentiles, and, like Joshua of old, he 
had a right, for that reason, to destroy them. As might 
have been expected, the very success of Judas against his 
neighbors involved him and his country in trouble which 
he might have avoided. 

Epiphanes was dead, Lysias was still prime minister, and 
had the care of the young king ; but Philip had attempted 
to gain possession of his ofiice. Lysias having now a rival, 
could not safely loose credit by neglecting his duty to 
defend the provinces of his kingdom. He was terrified at 
the progress of Judas, in his war upon those provinces. 
It is difficult to say what less he could do than maintain 
the dignity of the government, by invading and chastising 
the Jews for thus disturbing their neighbors. Hence, what- 
ever was the cause of the preceding wars against the Jews, 
this one seemed to be of their own inviting. 

Accordingly, Lysias formed an army of eighty thousand 
foot and a large body of cavalry, with eighty elephants, and 
marched to Judea. Avoiding Jerusalem, he proceeded to 
the south of Palestine and besieged a fortress called Beth 
Suva : this was on the borders of Idumea. Judas, among 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 213 

other operations, had invaded the Idumeans, and slain 
multitudes of the unoffending people, and placed a strong 
garrison in Beth Suva. Lysias besieged the fortress. 
Judas devoutly besought the Lord for aid, and marched 
from Jerusalem toward the enemy. Jewish writers assert 
tliat as the little army proceeded toward the enemy, there 
appeared before them an angel, or some mysterious being, 
riding upon a horse, clothed in white, with arms of gold 
and a lance in his hand. It is incredible that the Supreme 
Being condescended to give such a display, or optical illu- 
sion, for the benefit of a people who, whatever the case 
might once have been, were, at that time, of all people 
least worthy of Divine favor. Besides, sucli a sight was 
a mere phantom, and could be of no practical value, except 
as far as it affected their courage. It is by far more proba- 
ble, that Judas perceiving the declining and desponding 
spirit of his little army, played off the illusion to encour- 
age them. The result was as he might have anticipated. 
The Jews, with frantic enthusiasm, threw themselves upon 
the enemy. The suddenness and desperation of their assault 
struck their opponents with a panic, and rendered them 
powerless. Twelve thousand six hundred of the Syrian 
army were slain, and the rest fled, many of them wounded 
and without weapons. 

After this defeat, Lysias, tired of war with a people of 
such desperate valor, made a treaty of peace with Judas, 
in which it was stipulated that the decree requiring the 
Jews to conform to the Syrian religion, should be revoked, 
and the Jews might live according to their own laws. The 
young king was required to ratify this treaty, which he 
accordingly did. But it brought no peace to Judea. 

Whatever cause might have produced it, there existed a 
deadly hatred against the Jews among their neighbors. 
Timotheus, a general of the king of Syria, by whose 



214 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

authority we are not informed, raised another army of 
one hundred and twenty thousand foot and two thousand 
five hundred horse, and again invaded Judea. Judas, with 
a little handful of men, rushed upon the new foe, slew 
thirty thousand and defeated the entire forces of Timo- 
theus, which greatly inspired his people with courage. The 
reader must hear in mind, tliat the tremendous victories 
of a little handful of Jews over great numhers of their 
enemies, are only authenticated hy Jewish writers, to whose 
exaggerations each one may give as much credit as he 
pleases. 

The king, still not ten years of age, witli Lysias, 
raised another army with thirty-two elephants and thirty 
chariots of war, and again invaded Judea. The forces of 
Judas had heen greatly diminished by so many wars, and 
this time he found himself unable to resist the invasion. 
He was defeated in an engagement, and retired to Jeru- 
salem ; the king pursued him and invested the city, pressed 
closely the siege, and would probably have caused the 
besieged to surrender, had not relief appeared from another 
quarter. 

Philip, who had been appointed prime minister by 
Epiphanes, could not remove Lysias nor gain possession of 
his office. He had in vain sought aid from Egypt, and 
had retired into the east ; once there, he had skill and 
talent sufficient to raise a large army of Modes and Persians, 
and with these he marched into Syria, intending to attack 
Antioch, and place himself in power during the absence of 
the king and Lysias. Information of this invasion reached 
the ears of Lysias, while he and the king were pressing 
the siege of Jerusalem. They were obliged to make peace 
with the Jews, in order to march against Philip. A treaty 
was entered into and sworn to by the king, who, within a 
few days, violated his oath by demolishing the fortifications 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 215 

of the temple, after which he retired to Syria. These 
three invasions, under Antiochus Eupator, all occurred in 
the same year. But less than two years more, saw Syria 
under new rulers, and another invasion occurred under 
Demetrius Soter. 

Antiochus Eupator, at the time of the treaty of peace 
made with the Jews, appointed Alsimus high priest, as tlie 
successor of Menelaus who was dead. But the Jews refused 
to accept of him or permit him to handle the sacred vessels 
or administer in his office. He had joined with the enemy 
of the Jews under Epiphanes. He exerted himself to 
corrupt the religion of his fathers, and induce the Jews to 
accept the pagan religion according to the decree of the 
king of Syria. For tiiis act, the Jews rightly decided him 
unfit for the office of high priest. Disappointed and exas- 
perated at his rejection, Alsimus gathered together all 
the disaffected and apostate Jew^s and enemies of Judas, and 
presented a petition to Demetrius, alleging that the Jews 
of the Maccabosan party were his enemies, and had slain 
all who adhered to his party in the collision with Eupator, 
accusing them at the same time of many other abominable 
I practices. Whether any of these accusations were founded 
upon truth or not, Demetrius listened to them and pursued 
the policy of his predecessors by beginning his reign with 
an invasion of Judea. In 162, Demetrius confirmed Alsimus 
in the office of high priest of the Jews, and directed Bachides, 
his general in Mesopotamia, to march with a large army 
into Judea, expel Judas, and place Alsimus in his office. 
Alsimus had also an army, and with it proceeded to the 
Jordan to accomplish this purpose. Another army was also 
raised, and Nicanor appointed to commanded it. Judas was 
successful in defeating all the measures of the Mesopota- 
mian commander, and slew multitudes of his soldiers. 
Nicanor, exasperated to see a little handful of Jews thus 



216 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

successfully oppose the operations of all tlie forces, inarclied 
alone into Judea, where Judas defeated and entirely over- 
whelmed the whole army. Nicanor was found among the 
slain ; his head and hands were carried off in triumph, and 
placed upon one of the towers of the temple. Judas now 
had a little respite, and fearing future invasions, he applied 
to Kome for protection, thus clearing the way for the final 
triumph of Eome over Judea, as well as all the other portions 
of the old kingdom of Macedonia. The Romans lent a 
willing ear to this application, declared the Jews their 
friends, and forbade any nation to invade them. But before 
this decree was kown in Asia, Demetrius had commenced 
his second war upon the Jews. Alsimus and Bachides, 
although defeated, still lived. Demetrius increased their 
army, and ordered them to invade and subdue Judea. As 
they entered that country, Judas met them with his little 
band of eight hundred men, and engaged them. As might 
be expected he was slain, and his little flock dispersed. It 
is believed that Alsimus was also slain at the time. Thus 
ended the war of 161, and the promulgation of the Roman 
decree, secured peace for a long time. 

Jonathan, a brother of Judas, was placed in the office of 
high priest, and temporal ruler of the Jews. In the year 
148, Alexander Bala, and Demetrius Nicanor, were con- 
tending for the throne of Syria. Jonathan having taken 
the oath of allegiance to Alexander, adhered to him with 
fidelity. Appolonius, governor of Celo-Syria and Phoenecia, 
deserted his master and advocated the cause of Demetrius. 
His first object was to reduce Jonathan to subjection to his 
cause. In an effort against him, in one day he lost eight 
thousand men. Bala now appealed to Ptolemy Philometor, 
his father-in-law, for aid, who immediately marched an army 
into Palestine. Jonathan met him at Gaza, and accom- 
panied him to Ptolemais, where a conspiracy was discovered 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 217 

to exist against the life of Ptolemy. This discovery resulted 
in a quarrel between Ptolemy and Alexander. The wife of 
the latter was taken from him, and given to his rival, Deme- 
trius. This woman was that Syrian Cleopatra, whose history 
is given in other places, and who was the wife of three kings. 
Her subsequent marriage preceded the death of her former 
husband. This left Jonathan in an unpleasant position, 
deserted, as he now was, by all his allies ; for Bala was soon 
after slain in Arabia, 

In the city of Jerusalem stood a citadel or strong military 
fort, of which we have given an account in speaking of the 
Macedonians and Jews. In this citadel were stored arms 
and munitions of war; It was held by a garrison of Greek 
soldiers, in the service of the Syrian government. Through 
all the changes and wars in India, this citadel seems to have 
remained in their hands. The respite which Jonathan had 
from 149 to 145 B. C, was spent in an effort to reduce this 
citadel, driving out the pagans, and restoring possession to 
the government of the Jews. He invested the fortress, 
brought large machines of war to bear upon it, and pressed 
the siege vigorously. Demetrius Nicanor, who had assumed 
the government upon the defeat of Bala, heard of these 
doings, repaired to Ptolemais and cited Jonathan to appear 
before him. The high priest directed his officers to press 
the siege vigorously during his absence, and taking a num- 
ber of priests and principal men of his nation, with rich 
presents, obeyed the summons and presented himself before 
the king. His gifts gained the favor of Demetrius, and he 
obtained many favors for his nation, among which were a 
discharge from all service and taxes, except three hundred 
talents. 

. This must have occurred about 145 B. C. The next year 
Jonathan resumed and pushed the siege of the citadel vigor- 
ously, but still without success. He certainly exhibited no 
19 



218 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS.' 

great sense of justice or military skill, in his prosecution of 
this undertaking. He met with no success in arms, and was 
at last compelled to resort to a means which was at his com- 
mand from the first negotiation, to accomplish his purpose. 
He applied to Demetrius and requested him to withdraw the 
garrison, which he accordingly did. One condition of this 
withdrawal was, that Jonathan should assist Demetrius in 
his difficulties. We have seen one of the causes of the end- 
less calamities of the Jews. It was the union of the two 
offices of priest and governor. The high priest was also the 
political ruler of the people. This fact involved the sacred 
office in the quarrels of the various pagan nations with whom 
the Jews were at various times connected, and consequently 
often called forth the direst hate of other nations, against 
the religion as well as the whole people of the Jews. This 
union of the secular with the priestly office was no Divine 
arrangement — was not according to Moses — but was a 
usurpation of temporal power by the high priest, which 
dates from the return from the Babylonian captivity. Deme- 
trius, by his mal-administration, had alienated the people of 
his own city and country, to such a degree that signs of insub- 
ordination began to appear. Fearing to trust his native 
soldiers, he had surrounded himself with foreign guards. 
His late favor to Jonathan was on condition that he would 
furnish troops to aid in suppressing the rebellion of the 
inhabitants of Antioch. Jonathan accordingly sent his three 
thousand troops. When Demetrius found himself thus 
defended, he resolved to disarm all the native inhabitants 
and issued a decree accordingly. This so exasperated the 
people that they arose and attempted to kill the king. One 
hundred and twenty thousand men invested his palace with 
this determination. The Jews furnished by Jonathan fell 
upon this multitude, and slew one hundred thousand of the 
inhabitants, burned part of the city and saved the king. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 219 

They thus subdued the rebellion and restored peace, and as 
they boasted, had obtained a sweet revenge upon the innocent 
inhabitants, for the sufferings the Jews had previously 
endured at the hands of the Syrians, under Epij)hanes. 

It is manifest that the Jewish religion did not teach, at 
that time, much forgiveness or justice, but allowed of indis- 
criminate reveno'e. These sad results are not chargeable to 
the teaching of Divine revelation, but to the corruption 
engrafted upon it by the traditions *of the Pharisees, then 
the reigning sect. What apology can be offered for a high 
priest of a holy religion, who not only defends his temple 
and subjects at home, but sends off his armies to other coun- 
tries to butcher the people, burn cities and plunder houses, 
to sustain an idolatrous king upon the throne which he had 
disgraced by his tyrany ? After this they retired to Jeru- 
salem, laden with booty and what they called honor — such 
honor as belongs to pirates, thieves and quarrelsome dogs. 
What impression could such a representative of the only 
true religion make on the citizens of surrounding nations ? 
Is it to be wondered at that they had bitter enemies ? Surely 
there was need that a Messiah should come to teach the duty 
of man to his fellow man. 

This service of Jonathan did not make Demetrius any the 
less a tyrant toward his native subjects, or any the less an 
enemy of the Jews. Although he received the three hun- 
dred talents, he still demanded all the usual duties and 
. taxes, and threatened to make war upon Jonathan if he 
refused to pay them. 

Another revolution now took place at Antioch. Demetrius 

Nicanor was expelled, and Tryphon, who had been minister 

under Bala, brought the youthful son of Bala and placed 

him upon the throne ; retaining, however, the power in his 

|. own hands. 

Jonathan, exasperated at the ingratitude of Demetrius, 



220 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 



1 



had joined the standard of young Antiochus, and engaged 
in a war against Demetrius. But no sooner had that mon- 
arch been expelled, and the war ended, than he found him- 
self in a new trouble ; the usual consequence of being 
entangled in the affairs of other nations. Tryphon, the 
protector and prime minister of the king, had only used him 
as a tool, to accomplish his purpose. He now desired to rid 
himself of Antiochus, and assume the crown himself. He 
easily persuaded most of the officers to acquiesce in his 
scheme of ambition. But Jonathan, with his usual tenacity 
and obstinacy, refused to acknowledge this new master. 
This act can hardly be accredited to honest motives on the 
part of Jonathan, for at that period the Jewish rulers evi- 
dently had no conscience on any subject except the forms 
and rites of their religion. 

In 144 B. C, Tryphon therefore invaded Judea with an 
army, and Jonathan met him with a force of forty thousand 
men. Tryphon fearing to engage so powerful a force, 
changed his mode of proceeding. He pretended to have 
come on an errand of friendship, and was desirous to consult 
him in some matters of state policy, having for their object 
the protection of the young king. He also proposed to put 
Jonathan in possession of Ptolemais, a ■city which, at that 
time, was attached to the province of Phoenicia, and not sub- 
ject to Jerusalem. To Ptolemais accordingly Tryphon 
repaired. Jonathan, dismissing all his army except three 
thousand men, of whom he sent two thousand into Galilee, 
and having full confidence in the good intentions of Try- 
phon, proceeded to Ptolemais. He had no sooner entered 
that city than the gates were closed upon him, himself 
secured, and his attendants put to death. 

Tryphon then dispatched soldiers to overtake and^estroy 
the two thousand troops who were now on their way to Gali- 
lee ; but these men having learned the fate of Jonathan 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 221 

and his men, were on their guard, and made so formidable 
a defense that the soldiers of Tryphon dared not attack 
them. They changed their course, and arrived safely at 
Jerusalem. Tryphon now marched toward Jerusalem. The 
people, alarmed at what had befallen Jonathan, appointed 
Simeon (his brother) to the command, who immediately 
repaired and completed the defenses about the city, and, 
raising an army, was shortly ready to resist the invader. 
In all this time, Tryphon had not declared war, and had 
committed no overt act which could not be explained. He 
was, as yet, only prime minister ; but the king was but a 
child, and his will is not known in any of these movements. 
The prime minister feared to attack Simeon, but again 
resorted to deception and treachery. And strange as it 
may seem, with his recent conduct before their eyes, the 
Jews were again completely deceived by false promises. 
Tryphon sent word to Simeon that he had not come to do 
him harm ; that he had only arrested Jonathan, because he 
owed to the treasury of Syria a thousand talents. He 
therefore requested Simeon to send him that sum, and, as 
security for the future fidelity of Jonathan, he wished him 
to give up the two young sons of Jonathan as hostages. 
Simeon seems to have had some suspicion of treachery. 
Yet he feared that his brother, now a prisoner, might be 
murdered, if he refused to comply with these demands. 
He was so imprudent as to send the children and the 
money. The traitor received the treasure, but, instead of 
retiring, gathered his army and advanced upon Jerusalem. 
Simeon followed him so closely and annoyed him so con- 
tinually, that he was unable to accomplish much, and finally 
retired into Gilead, on the east of Jordan, into winter quar- 
ters, where he put Jonathan to death. Simeon afterward 
obtained his bones, and brought them to Jerusalem for 
burial. The fate of the two children is unknown. 



222 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Tryphon having disposed of Jonathan, now compassed 
the death of the young king, and ascended the throne of 
Syria. But Demetrius Nicanor still lived, and had his 
party and friends. After the cruelties and treachery of 
Tryphon, the Jews sympathized with Demetrius. Simeon 
formed a kind of league with him, by which on him was 
conferred the office of the high priesthood, and the old 
treaty was renewed, by which the revenues were remitted 
and all offenses forgiven. This was in the year 143 B. C. 

Until this time, the exercise of political and military 
authority by the high priest had been rather a matter of 
assumption than of any regularly acknowledged right. It 
grew out of the existing state of things and the necessi- 
ties of the times. Judea had indeed had no distinct form 
of government for many hundred years, but had been float- 
ing between a state of dependence upon Egypt and Syria 
and one of anarchy and military dictatorship. 

In 141 B. C, Demetrius being in Parthia contending 
with Tryphon for the possession of this dependency of 
Syria, and affairs in general being in a state of confu- 
sion, the Jews essayed to build up a government of their 
own. Taking advantage of the troubled state of affairs, 
they began to assert a greater degree of independence. 

Egypt had, for a long time, neglected to enforce her 
claim to the province of Palestine. Her princes were 
either sufficiently engaged in family quarrels, or steeped 
in abject debauchery. The Jews had been pleased with 
the administrations of Judas, Jonathan and Simeon. De- 
metrius had declared Simeon governor over Judea, but that 
honor was confinied to his own person. In an assembly of 
priests, officers and people, it was formally declared that 
the office of high priest should be legally united to that 
of the temporal power, at the head of civil and military 
aff'airs, and that Simeon should fill that office, and that it 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 223 

should be hereditary in his family. This was only 
acknowledging and making legal a state of affairs which 
had obtained for some centuries. 

In 139 B. C, Simeon being acknowledged a temporal 
prince, sent an embassy to Eome and renewed the friend- 
ship with that people, which had been begun by Judas some 
years before. The Roman senate received the embassadors, 
heard them, and renewed the alliance. They advised the 
nations surrounding Judea, who were also in alliance with 
Rome, of these facts, and commanded them not to invade 
Judea, or disturb the government of Simeon. 

Antiochus Sidetes, before he had expelled the usurper, 
Tryphon, had formed a very favorable alliance with Sim- 
eon, in order to obtain his aid. But having reaped the 
benefit of his services, and obtained the throne, he no 
longer needed his friendship. In order to recover his reve- 
nues, which had been restored, he therefore, contrary to his 
solemn promises made in time of need and in disregard of 
the Eoman mandate, undertook to conquer Judea and de- 
pose Simeon ; but Judas and. Jakin, the sons of Simeon, 
met and overthrew his army. The invasion of the army 
of Sidetes, in 139 B. C, is the twenty-seventh from the 
death of Alexander. 

In 135 B. C, Antiochus Sidetes, having no enemies at 
home, and his brother Demetrius being in Parthia, found 
time to invade Judea. Simeon and his two sons beina* 
dead, John Hyrcanus, his third son, was proclaimed high 
priest and prince of the Jews. Sidetes nuirched against 
Jerusalem and besieged the city. Hyrcanus was closely 
shut in, yet he resisted the enemy for a long time. But 
being driven to extremities, and in danger of starvation, 
he sent to Sidetes proposals for capitulation. The enemies 
of the Jews, retracing all their past history, the wars and 



224 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

rebellions, their obstinate valor, and the turbulence of their 
nature, urged upon Sidetes to exterminate the whole race, 
now that he had them in his power. Historians declare 
that it was purely the good disposition of Sidetes that pre- 
vented him from yielding to their solicitation ; but I much 
more think that his clemency proceeded from a selfish 
policy. He had just exterminated the faction of Tryphon, 
the usurper. 

He might have to contend with other usurpers. His 
elder brother, though a prisoner in a foreign land, still 
lived, and in some emergency that yet might occur, Sidetes 
might be in want of the aid of the Jews, to hold the 
balance of power in his own hands. He might also have 
some fear of offending Eome, whose influence would benefit 
him in some future emergency. These are the most prob- 
able reasons why he inclined to clemency. 

A treaty was the result, in which it was stipulated that 
the siege should be abandoned, and the besieged should 
surrender their arms to Sidetes ; that the fortifications of 
Jerusalem should be demolished, and tribute paid for 
Judea and the sea coast. Sidetes demanded also that the 
old citadel should be rebuilt, and a garrison of Syrian 
soldiers stationed there ; but to this Hyrcanus refused 
to consent, and instead thereof paid the conqueror an 
additional five hundred talents, about half a million of 
dollars. 

This treaty was a severe humiliation to the Jews, more 
so than any which had occurred in the preceding invasions, 
for many years. In 131 B. C, Antiochus commenced his 
great campaign against the Parthians, in the first part of 
which he was entirely successful, and in the latter of which 
he lost his life. John Hyrcanus, with an army of Jews, 
accompanied him in this expedition, and contributed largely 



THE KINGDOM OE BRASS. 225 

to his first success. At the close of the year Hyrcanus 
retired to Jerusalem, laden with honor. Sidetes, heing left 
without his aid, lost his life the next year. 

In 122 B. C, after the death of Sidetes, and before his 
brother, Nicanor, could take possession of the throne and 
kingdom, Hyrcanus availed himself of the confusion inci- 
dent to these changes at Antioch, to deliver his country 
from the odious conditions imposed upon her by Sidetes. 
He not only restored his national bounds, but conquered 
and subjected to his control many places on the side of 
Syria, in Arabia, and declared anew his entire independ- 
ence of any foreign master. Syria never again attempted 
a conquest of Judea, although that independence was not 
acknowledged till some time subsequent to this. 

Hyrcanus in 128 B. C. again sent ambassadors to Rome, 
who were kindly received, and the Senate declared that all 
the invasions of Judea by Sidetes were contrary to their 
decrees, and unjust, and that all the conditions he had 
imposed upon the Jews were by Roman authority void. All 
the privileges of the Jews, which Hyrcanus had obtained 
for them two years before, were confirmed to them. The 
kings and rulers of Syria were forbidden to invade Judea. 

This was forever afterward observed; and the next 
troubles of the Jews will be found to have arisen among 
themselves, or witli the Romans, excepting only the siege 
of Samaria. 

In 127 B. C, while Cleopatra and Zebirna were rivals 
for the government of Syria, Hyrcanus obtained from 
Zebirna a confirmation of their independence, and many 
other considerable advantages. 

JUDEA UNDER KINGLY GOVERNMENT, B. C. 106. 

When the Israelites first cast off the democratic form of 
government and elected Saul, son of Kish, for their king, 



226 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

they introduced with royalty the elements of strife and 
civil war, which resulted in their division into two nations, 
and received none of the advantages they proposed to 
themselves by this change in their form of government. 
In like manner, in later times, a transition from the gov- 
ernment of a high priest to that of a king, brought no 
relief from their enemies, and no peace to themselves, but 
introduced confusion and distraction, ending in the entire 
subversion of their nationality, and the transfer of all rule 
to a foreign power. If we think the scenes transpiring 
about this time in the courts of pagan nations were of 
revolting cruelty, we shall find that the Jews, who once 
claimed to possess the only true religion, were not behind 
in any of the crimes which distinguished their neigh- 
bors. 

The religion of that time had become so corrupted, and 
was so destitute of all that commends itself to the moral 
sense of mankind, that the nation which professed it was, 
by a decree of God, dispersed to the earth's remotest bounds, 
as unfit to be recognized among the nationalities. The 
principal actors in these ignoble scenes were : 

Aristobulus, Antigonus, Alexander Jonas, and Absalom, 
sons of Hyrcanus ; Salome, wife of Aristobulus ; Alexan- 
dria, wife of Jonas; Hyrcanus II.; Aristobulus IL, son of 
Alexander; Antipater, an Idumean proselyte; Pompey, 
Crassus, Csesar, Marc Antony, Roman Consuls; Alexander 
and Antigonus, sons of Aristobulus; Herod and Phocas, 
sons of Antipater. 

The death of Hyrcanus, high priest and governor of 
Judea, had been before mentioned. He left five sons ; the 
name of the fourth, who was slain by the third, is not 
transmitted to us. Aristobulus, the eldest, assumed the 
ofiice and duties of his father as high priest. But not con- 
tented with the civil power, he desired a higher title thau 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 227 

any Jew had assumed for a long time. He claimed the 
dignity of a king. 

This might be offensive to the neighboring nations, but 

I wo must remember that the remnants of the once powerful 

! kingdom of Macedon were now in a weak and shattered 
condition, and Eome was fast rising to be the dictator of 
the world. The power of the world was passing from the 
third to the fourth beast of the prophet's vision. Thrace 
had ceased to be of importance, and Macedon had become 
a Roman province nearly a century previous to these 
events, and Syria had now become, to some degree, de- 
pendent upon Rome for its existence. Neither Egypt nor 
Syria had power to dispute the claims of Judea to take 

I rank as a kingdom. It was the policy of Rome to encour- 
age their pretensions, the better to check the surrounding- 
nations and aid Rome in subduing them. Aristobulus 
therefore assumed the crown and title of king without 

, opposition, and reigned about one year. He adopted all 
the vices of kingly government, and far from acting the 

: part of a father of his country, or bearing in mind the 
holiness of his religion, his first public act was to shut up 
his own mother in close confinement and starve her to 
death. AVliat crime she had committed, or how she had 
offended his majesty, we are not informed. He next 
imprisoned his three younger brothers, keeping them in 
that state until his death. The next movement was a war 
against the Iturians. This was a tribe of Syrians living 
on the north-east of Galilee, in the direction of Damascus. 
What they had done, or for what cause they were invaded, 
is unknown, except that as one of his ancestors had con- 
quered Idumea, and compelled the inhabitants to embrace 
the Jewish religion, he thought he must do the same in 
Ituria. In 105 B. C, Aristobulus crossed the Jordan with 
au army, and compelled the Iturians to embrace the Jewish 



22S THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

faith and become circumcised, or leave their country, their 
homes and the graves of their fathers, and emigrate to 
distant lands. Most of tlie people having no redress, or 
means of escape, complied with the conditions, and were 
ever after identified with the Jews. How very dark and 
unintelligible must be the idea of religion and duty to 
God, when men embrace a religious faith, not from choice 
or approbation, but from inability to resist a superior force ! 
The act of Aristobulus was tyrannical, yet the principle 
which prompted it was the same that, alas ! still prompts 
many persons in our day in their religious efforts. Before 
the year closed, the king of the Jews became afflicted with 
a malady which compelled him to return to Jerusalem. 
He committed the further prosecution of the war to his 
brother Antigonus, who completed the work of conquest, 
and returned in triumph to Jerusalem. These two brothers 
were greatly attached to each other. They had fought side 
by side in the wars of their father, and especially at the 
siege of Samaria. Aristobulus had a wife, Salome, of whom 
we know but little, except that, like too many women, she 
abused her lord's confidence, by stirring up strife in public 
matters. She did not partake of the king's partiality for 
Antigonus, but sought the destruction of that worthy officer. 
She and her favorites accused him, before the king, of an 
intention to rebel and usurp the government, and asserted 
that he had returned in arms and triumph for that pur- 
pose. It so happened that Antigonus had returned just at 
the time of the feast of the Tabernacles, and, without 
changing his apparel, had repaired to the temple to thank 
the Lord for his success. Aristobulus, disquieted by these 
rumors, sent orders for Antigonus to appear before him in 
his citizen's dress, without arms, presuming that if his 
brother were innocent, he would obey the command ; but 
if guilty, he would come with his military dress and 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 229 

weapons of war. The guards wore therefore ordered to 
await his arrival, and treat him accordingly. 

The queen, perfectly apprised of the state of things, 
bribed this messenger to vary the order, and, in the name 
of the king, command Antigonus to appear before him 
immediately, in his military dress, just as he was. The 
unsuspecting victim left the solemn festival, and repaired 
to the royal presence without ceremony, supposing, from 
the haste of the order, that the king wished to inquire 
about some business of state that would not admit of delay. 
As Antigonus approached his brother, the guards observing 
that he was armed, obeyed their secret orders, fell upon 
him and slew him. Here we have a specimen of the indis- 
cretion and injustice which always attends absolute mon- 
archy; and all monarchs are just as far absolute as they 
can find means to be. After ihejtruel deed was done, the 
silly king discovered the cheat ; yet he could not undo the 
evil. Within the year, disease caused the king to follow 
his mother and brother into the shades of death. Salome, 
as if to ease her troubled conscience for the murder of 
Antigonus, caused his three brothers to be immediately 
released from prison. The eldest of these brothers, Alex- 
ander Jonas, assumed the crown and high priesthood. His 
next younger brother desired to divide these offices with 
him, and he, in consequence, caused the young aspirant to 
be put to death, thus baptizing his administration in the 
blood of his brother. 

Across the Jordan and south of Ituria, dwelt the Gada- 
renes, a mixed multitude, famous in the time of the Saviour 
for the number of swine they kept — some of whom were 
possessed of devils, and drowned in the sea. 

For some reason, not distinctly known, it entered into 
the mind of Jonas to besiege Gadara. He therefore crossed 
the Jordan, as his brother had done the year before, and 



230 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

commenced the war. After a struggle of about ten months, 
he captured Gadara and several other important stations, 
and commenced his return, flushed witli victory. At this 
time Grypus and Cjzicus were engaged in their civil war, 
and Lathyrus of Egypt rather favored the interests of 
Grypus, who resided at Damascus. This invasion of Gad- 
ara was deemed an invasion of the territory of that part 
of Syria. On his return, Jonas found the tide of war 
against him, for in crossing the Jordan he wa^ intercepted 
by the enemy, and lost ten thousand men. 

He therefore returned to Jerusalem in mortification and 
disgrace. It now appears that he had not the confidence or 
afl:ection of the dominant party at home. The Pharisees 
had long entertained a dislike to his family, and as we have 
abundantly seen, that a religious class, when in the ascend- 
ant, generally bring their power to bear so as to annoy 
whomever they dislike, they rejoiced at his defeat, derided 
him, and increased his mortification. 

A few years after this event, in 100 B. C, Jonas com- 
menced another campaign. The sea coast along the borders 
of Palestine and Arabia, had been under the control of 
Syria, but as that kingdom was engaged in civil wars 
between Grypus and Cyzicus, these places had been some- 
what neglected. Jonas, with the usual ardor and injustice 
of the Jews, invaded Eaphia and Anthadon, two places near 
Gaza, took them, and by this means blocked up Gaza. 
Jonas seems to have been actuated in this v>'ar, in no small 
degree, by a desire for revenge. The people of Gaza had 
united Lathy rus to invade Asia, and aid Grypus. This, it 
was supposed, contributed to the former misfortune of Jonas 
at the Jordan. 

In 98 B. C., Jonas having possession of the two places 
before mentioned, brought a large army and besieged Gaza. 
ApoUodorus was then its governor. He defended the place 



THE KINGDOM OF BRAS^. 231 

with skill, bravery and success. For this fidelity he was 
gaining a reputation, when he experienced the fate so com- 
mon to those, who, in any good cause do more than their 
indolent associates, and are therefore traduced and belied, in 
order to afford a place for the indolent and incompetent. 
Lysunachus, a brother, envying his good name, assassinated 
Apollodorus, and took the command of the city, but very 
soon after surrendered it to Jonas, who immediately entered 
Gaza, and at first exercised so much lenity as to encourage 
the inhabitants to hope for kindness. But after a few days 
having well secured his position, he satiated his revenge, by 

I letting his soldiers loose upon the unoffending people, to 
butcher, plunder, and ravish to their hearts' content. The 
inhabitants, driven to despair, resisted heroically, and great 

' numbers on both sides were slain. The city was reduced to 
a heap of ruins. Thus closed the year 97 B. C, and Jonas 
retired from his holy war to Jerusalem. Such was the char- 

I acter of the kingly high priest of the Jews. Need we then 

I wonder at any of the religious barbarities practiced in the 
time of Christ, by the same people ? 

Whatever may have been the depravity of the most vile 
person in Judea, it appears that there were those among the 
people, who did not approve of this sanctified wickedness ; 
for two years after the fall of G-aza, in 95 B. C, while the 
king or high priest was officiating at the altar, he was 
severely pelted with lemons thrown at his head, in token of 
contempt ; and at the same time called by every opprobrious 
epithet. Exasperated by these insults, he ordered his guards 
to fall upon the people, by which act six thousand of them 
were killed. From that time he no longer ventured to trust 
himself among the Jews, but surrounded himself with six 
thousand foreign soldiers, brought from Cilicia. 

After this terrible revenge upon his own people, he thought 
himself safe from other insults, and according to the uniform 



232 THE laNGDOM OF BRASS. 

customs of the restless, turbulent Jews, he began a war upon 
the neighboring provinces of Syria. In this he was at first 
successful, but ultimately fell into an ambush, and lost a 
great number of his men, and returned to Jerusalem in dis- 
grace. Not having the confidence or good will of his own 
people, instead of sympathy or kind regard, he was met with 
the spirit of censure and turbulence, which increased into a 
formidable rebellion and civil war. Jonas was not the man 
however to be discouraged under difficulties. He was cruel, 
implacable and treacherous, but he did not lack courage and 
inventive talent. He planned a terrible revenge, and having, 
by the sagacity of his arrangements, secured the victory over 
his rebellious subjects, concluded a six years' internal war 
with a great slaughter. During this civil war, on one occa- 
sion, he captured a city, took eight hundred men captives, 
and carried them and their families to Jerusalem. Here he 
made a feast for himself, his wives and concubines, where, 
from the banquet hall, they had a fair view of the spectacle 
he was going to present for their entertainment, and then 
caused the eight hundred men to be crucified. While they 
were being nailed to the cross, their wives and children were 
brought before them and had their throats cut. Such was 
the royal high priesthood, in 86 B. C. In this war not less 
than fifty thousand Jews were slain ; by far more than in 
any one of the invasions of Nebuchadnezzar. 

Subsequent to this rebellion, Jonas was successful in 
several wars of little note. Finally he became diseased of 
an ague, of which , after three years' illness, having mean- 
time become very intemperate, he died, in 79, having 
reigned twenty- seven years. 

ALEXANDER, 79 B. C. 

Alexander Jonas left a wife, Alexandria, and two sons, 
Hyrcanus and Aristobulus between whom the family 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 233 

quarrels were perpetuated. The two prominent sects, the 
Pharisees and Sadducees, had already divided the Jewish 
nation into factions. Not contented with their religious 
treachery, they carried this animosity into deadly political 
strife. Some modern writers have endeavored to show that 
a third sect then existed, called Essenes — that Jesus of Naza- 
reth was of that sect, and that the Essenes being before his 
advent, taught all the essential doctrines of Christ. What- 
ever may have been the fact in some other countries, there 
is not the least particle of evidence that any such a people 
existed in Judea until after the time of Christ. These war- 
ring parties are often spoken of. Hostile armies of ditTerent 
nations were frequently passing through Judea, and must 
have come in contact with such a people if any existed ; yet 
all the writers of these times are silent about the Essenes. 
The strong presumption is, that no such people existed, at 
least in Judea, and that Jesus Christ borrowed none of his 
; great truths of mortal men. Jonathan had some difficulty 
with the Pharisees, and on this account gave the whole 
weight of his influence to the Sadducees. The Pharisees 
laid great stress upon the traditions and formalities which 
had been appended to the sacred scriptures, and believed in 
I a resurrection of the dead and a future existence, which it 
seems, was only defended by these traditions, while the 
I Sadducees adhered only to the inspired word without appen- 
, dage or tradition, and maintained that the Hebrew scrip- 
,' ture alone revealed no future existence for man. Jonathan 
reflected the tradition of the Pharisees. This sect, ever 
pre-eminent for their bigotry, as men are always more apt 
I to be, for the traditions, faiths, formalities and creeds, than 
j for the original word upon whicli they base those human 
; productions, were exceedingly vindictive toward the whole 
house of Jonathan, and endeavored to harass and perplex 
the royal high priest and all his adherents. They had 
20 



234 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

been the cause of the recent civil war, in which, not only 
their opponents, but themselves suffered severely. They 
were exceedingly spiteful toward Jason during his life. 
But after his death, affairs took an entirely new turn. 
Alexandria found herself suddenly at the head of the 
government, a weak, defenseless woman, unable to cope 
with the crafty bigots, by whom she was surrounded. She 
immediately called the Pharisees around her, professed her 
attachment to their faith, and desired to put the affairs of 
the government into their hands. She intimated that this 
course was in compliance with the wishes of her late 
husband. Elated with this preferment, they made a 
pompous funeral for the late king, and extolled him as one 
of the best and most religious of men, although in his life- 
time, they had said and done all in their power to injure 
him. 

The funeral over, these religious bigots began the work 
of vengeance for their past calamities. They persecuted 
even unto death, great numbers of those who adhered to 
the former monarch. Men, women, and children, were 
often slain without even the shadow of a crime being 
charged against them, except that in the preceding reign 
they had obeyed their lawful sovereign, and were friends 
of the Sadducees. In the mean time Hyrcanus, the elder 
son of the queen, was made high priest. But he was a 
stupid, inactive man, and took no conspicuous part in the 
events that were transpiring. 

At length the distressed inhabitants, with Aristobulus, 
the younger son of the late monarch, applied to the queen 
for protection from the fury of their persecutors. They 
represented that these calamities. were brought upon them 
purely from having been faithful to her husband, and that 
she ought either to protect them in their homes or permit 
them peaceably to depart into other countries where quiet 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 235 

might be enjoyed. The artful Pharisees had so adroitly 
planned their measures, and surrounded the queen with their 
creatures, that she had no power to help herself or aid her 
people. She had completely yielded her person and 
kingdom into the hands of their infamous council. What- 
ever of remorse she might suffer, aid she had none. She 
however, granted part of their requests, and sent many of 
the sufferers to fill her remote fortresses and garrisons, 
thinking that in any emergency that might arise, she could 
rely upon them for aid. Nearly six years had transpired 
under the cruel persecutions of the Pharisees when Alex- 
andria fell sick, and was evidently near the end of her life. 
In 73, Aristobulus, who had long meditated this step, took 
measures to secure the crown to himself. Stealthily, and 
in the night, he glided out of Jerusalem with one servant, 
visited the garrison of the country, where his friends were 
prepared to receive him, and in fifteen days was at the 
head of a formidable army of those, who, by persecution, 
had been brought to detest the dominant party. Twenty- 
two towns, and many castles, with multitudes of all the 
people, wTary of the tyranny of the Pharisees, joined 
Aristobulus. 

When the dominant party saw him approach Jerusalem 
with an army, they immediately crowned Hyrcanus king ; 
not however, until they had visited the chamber of the 
dying queen, and informed her of the state of affairs. But 
she was too far gone to meddle longer with temporal 
matters. The Pharisees pretended that she bequeathed the 
care of the kingdom to them, appointing Hyrcanus her 
successor ; but of this there is doubt. It is probable that 
she expired amid their importunities. 

Aristobulus had a wife and child in Jerusalem. These 
the Pharisees seized and shut up in the castle of Bares, 
hoping thereby to intimidate him. But not succeeding in 



236 THE KINGDOM OF r.llASS. 

tlioir purpose, tlioy raised an army to sustain Hyrcanus, 
and resist his brother. The two hostile forces met, and an 
engagement ensued on the banks of the Jonhm, near 
Jericho. Hyrcanus, being of a feeble intellect and timid 
heart, fled early in the battle, and his friends were entirely 
defeated, while most of his etfective forces went over and 
joined the standard of Aristobulus. Hyrcanus fled to the 
castle of Bares, and his adherents to the temple, where 
they were invested by the victorious army, and compelled 
to surrender. An aa'ommodation was the result, in which 
it was stipulated that Hyrcanus should retire to private life, 
which seemed best suited to his nature and wishes, and that 
Aristobulus should fill the office of high priest and king. 

ARISTOBULUS 11., B. C. 69. 

One Antipas, sometimes called Antipater, and subse- 
quently distinguished as the father of Herod, a native of 
Idumea, in common with many of his countrymen, had 
been compelled by force to embrace the Jewish religion. 
He had become prime minister under Alexander Jonas, and 
continued in oflice under the queen. He had high hopes 
that, by sustaining Hyrcanus, he should still keep liimself 
in power, and through the weakness of that prince control 
the government; but the defeat of Hyrcanus and the coro- 
nation of xVristobulus had frustrated all his ambitious 
hopes. He therefore sought to restore Hyrcanus. For the 
space of four years, without success, he importuned a king 
of Arabia, and other powers, for aid. About this time, G5 
B. C, Pompey, the famous Roman, having returned from 
Parthia, halted in Syria, which had recently become a 
Roman province. Antipater repaired to Damascus, com- 
plained of Aristobulus, and besought Roman aid to restore 
Hyrcanus. Aristobulus, aware of these measures, also 
applied to Pompey to confirm him on his throne. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 237 

A much more reasonable a])|)lIciitiou \vas made by the 
people, who represented that the kinoly fonn of govern- 
ment was of recent origin, and a usurpation, and that they 
were accustomed to be governed by the high priest alone, 
according to the ancient usage of their fathers. They 
therefore desired to be delivered from both the brothers. 
The policy of Rome for a number of generations had been 
adverse to all kings, and in favor of some Republican form 
of government, but they had sutfered the high priests of 
Judla to assume the title of king, in order to annoy Syria. 
Syria had now been subdued, and become subject to Home, 
and it became desirable to reduce the kingdom of Judea 

also. Ill 

Aristobulus defended himself, and declared that he had 
practiced no injustice against his brother, who was removed 
simply on account of his incapacity. He stated that he 
had assumed no otlier title nor authority than those pos- 
sessed hy his father and grandfather before him. His 
claims were sustained by a body of nobles dressed in gay 
and princely apparel— whose manners were haughty and 
insolent, greatly disgusting the plain Roman Consul. 

Pompoy was not in haste, as he had other interests at 
heart. Flushed with the glory of having checked the 
Parthians and completed the subjugation of Syria, he 
desired also to add the conquest of Arabia to his laurels. 
Arabia had often been been invaded, but seldom if ever 
conquered, since the days of Nebuchadnezzar. In the 
impreo-nable rock of Petra, so often spoken of as the aston- 
ishment of modern travelers, dwelt Auretus, king of North- 
ern Arabia.- The hostility of Aristobulus might obstruct 
his campaign in this direction. Pompey therefore gave 



oThis BtrongUold had once before been stormed by Antiochus the 
Great, but was still the capital of a mighty and free people. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

evasive answers to the several petitions ; but his future 
purposes were formed. He pursued his journey down the 
Jordan, around the Dead Sea, and among the defiles of 
Idumea. Unaccountable as it may appear, the Arabians 
were not aware of his approach. 

He took Petrsea by surprise, and captured the city of 
the rock with its king. Aristobulus, suspecting the policy 
of Pompey, immediately departed from Damascus, without 
the usual tokens of respect to the Roman Consul ; and 
while Arabia was being overrun by Pompey, Judea was 
beinp; fortified for a visit from him on his return. Having: 
accomplished the expedition, and set Auretus free upon a 
promised submission to Rome, Pompey returned to Damas- 
cus, where he learned of the formidable preparations for 
w^ar w^hich had been made during his absence. He now 
marched his army toward Judea, and Aristobulus came out 
to dispute his progress. 

The advancing host encamped near a mountain, on which 
stood a castle called the iVlexandrus. In this castle Aris- 
tobulus wdth his guides lodged. It was a strong place 
built by his father, Alexander Jonas."' Aristobulus visited 
Pompey in his camp several times, and labored to persuade 
him to declare in his favor, against the claims of Hyrcanus. 
But the Consul had his ow^n ends to accomplish. At length 
he seized Aristobulus, and compelled him to sign orders 
for the delivery of several fortresses to the Romans ; after 
which tlic prisoner was released. 

Incensed as well he might be at this treachery, Aris- 
tobulus hastened to Jerusalem, and prepared for a vigorous 
defense. Pompey pursued his way southward to Jericho, 

*I have been unable to determine with certainty the exact locality of 
this hill and fortress, but believe it must have been on the east of Galilee, 
a little north of the east branch of the Jordan, and about twenty miles 
north of Gadar. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 239 

near which place he received intelligence of the death of 
the great Mithridates, with whom Eome had long been at 
war. Ascending the barren mountains, the Koman army 
approached Jerusalem. Aristobulus had not yet abandoned 
all hope of the favor of Pompoy. He came out to meet 
him, and endeavored once more to persuade him to declare 
on his side. He offered him large sums of money and 
entire submission. Pompey was not insensible to the 
charms of money, although far less avaricious than many 
of the Koman officers. He accepted the offer, and sent 
Gelauor, his lieutenant, to Jerusalem, to receive the treas- 
ure, retaining Aristobulus in his power. The inhabitants 
of the city were unwilling to ratify the bargain, and shut 
the gates against the Eoman officer. Exasperated at this 
refusal, Pompey put Aristobulus in chains, and marched 
against the city. But it being well fortified, a vigorous 
defense, lasting three months, abated somewhat his ardor. 
Civil dissensions within now began to weaken the defenses 
of the city. The adherents of Hyrcanus proposed to sur- 
render to Pompey, well knowing that by so doing they 
should ffain his favor for their chief. The adherents of 
Aristobulus, on the contrary, determined still to resist. 
The party of Hyrcanus prevailed, and opened the city to 
the Eoman army ; but not until the opposite side had forti- 
fied themselves in the temple, and the wall and towers in 
connection with it, broken up the bridges that crossed the 
defiles, and thus made themselves quite impregnable. 

Three months they sustained themselves in this strong- 
hold, and perhaps would have compelled the Romans to 
abandon the siege, had it not been for tlieir superstitious 
regard of the Sabbath. As in the war of Antiochus 
Epiphanea, the Jews would neither guard, work, nor fight 
on the Sabbath day, unless directly attacked. Pompey, 
a,ware of this, did not attack them on those days, but 



240 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

employed his men in breaking down works of defense, and 
rearing his engines near those of his enemies, which the 
Jews coukl but woukl not prevent. At length a tower and 
portion of the wall were thrown down, and a breach made, 
through which the besieging army passed, sword in hand, 
and captured the place, slaying twelve thousand persons. 
This was the first invasion by the Komans, and opened the 
way for that Koman influence which we find prevailing over 
the Jewish nation, at the birth of Christ. This year, which 
was 65 before the birth of Christ, was thus marked by the 
subjection to Rome, of Mesopotamia, Armenia, Pergamos, 
Syria, Arabia and Judea, and the fourth beast was fully 
established over all the head of the third except Egypt, 
which continued independent thirty -five years longer. 

While the temple and citadel were being taken, the citi- 
zens being slaughtered, their blood flowing upon the ground 
and floor of the sanctuary, and the cries of the wounded, and 
the groans of the dying were rending the air, the priests 
were engaged in their usual sacrifices, from which service 
they did not desist, but proceeded as leisurely as if naught 
was transpiring. While true and intelligent piety promotes 
benevolence, and in no small degree consists in utility, a 
false and corrupt religion stupifies and annihilates all the 
finer feelings of our nature, and causes a servile adherence 
to the mere forms of religion, without the principles of 
righteousness or utility. This is the case in every age, and 
under every dispensation. I speak thus of the religion of 
those times, as corrupt, false, and useless, not because the 
Bible was not the word of God and the only record of divine 
truth, but because the Jewish nation had so changed the 
sacred teaching that it was not indeed the same religion, but 
a system of their traditions engrafted upon the truth, and 
often perverting it. 

Pompey and many of his officers entered not only into 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 241 

the temple, but into the holy of holies, thus polluting the 
sacred retreat of the high priest. This event keenly afflicted 
the Jews. It had occurred but a very few times since the 
destruction of the original temple of Solomon. Pompey, 
with commendable modesty, did not touch the sacred trea- 
sures in the temple, which were deposited there for charitable 
purposes, and amounted to the enormous sum of one and a 
half million of dollars. What possible charitable use could 
demand so great a sum ? Was it not collected by the avari- 
cious priests for their own purposes, under pretext of charity? 
Of this moderation of Pompey, KoUin thus speaks : 

*' It was not out of respect for the majesty of the God 
adored in that temple, that Pompey behaved in this manner, 
for according to him, nothing was more contemptible than 
the Jewish religion ; more unworthy the wisdom and gran- 
dure of the Romans, or more opposite to the institutions of 
their ancestors. Pompey had no other motive in this disin- 
terestedness than to deprive malice and calumny of all 
means of attacking his reputation. Such were the thoughts 
of the most learned pagans with respect to the only religion 
of the only true God. They blasphemed what they knew 
not." 

All this may sound well, but it is susceptible of criticism. 
For what did Pompey invade Jerusalem but for money, 
which Aristobulus promised, but the people refused to pay ? 
For what but money did he attack and conquer the temple ? 
Surely some other motive, whatever it might be, deterred 
him from enjoying what he had slain twelve thousand men 
to obtain. That motive is not apparent. Eollin speaks of 
the Eomans despising the only religion of the true God, 
but what was there at that time in the conduct, morals, or 
habits of the high priests, priests, Levites, Pharisees, or 
people, that would lead one to suppose they, and they only, 
were the devoted servants of a Holy God ? 
21 



242 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

All their religious conduct was abhorrent to every sense of 
justice and honesty. However holy and heavenly might 
have been, and evidently was the religion of Moses, of 
David, of Isaiah, and of Daniel, it would be difficult to find, 
save in a few obscure individuals, anything in the Jewish 
religion of the time we are describing, that is not revolting 
to contemplate, and calculated to fill a noble Eoman's breast 
with disgust. 

HYRCAIsTJS II., B. C. 63. 

Pompey having ended the present war by the capture of 
the temple, demolished much of the wall of Jerusalem, re- 
established Hyrcanus upon the throne of Judea, and sent 
Aristobulus and his sons Alexander and Antigonus in chains, 
prisoners to Kome. But Alexander effected his escape before 
arriving at the seven-hilled city, and returned to Judea, 
where he was not idle. Several cities were detached from 
the kingdom of Judea, and added to Syria. A heavy tribute 
was imposed upon Hyrcanus, and Antipator was appointed 
prime minister. In 57 B. C, young Alexander finding him- 
self at the head of an army, laid claim to the throne of his 
fathers. The feeble and efieminate Hyrcanus was either 
unwilling or afraid to meet him in battle, he therefore 
sought Koman aid, and Gabinius, governor of Syria, marched 
to his assistance. He met and defeated the army of Alex- 
ander, and restored Hyrcanus the third time to the office of 
high priest, but not to the throne. 

Gabinius, for a short time, abolished the monarchial form 
of government. In the year 54, Crassus, the Eoman, was on 
his unfortunate expedition to Parthia, and passed through 
Jerusalem, where he, less scrupulous than Pompey, robbed the 
temple of all its treasures, amounting in value to ten thou- 
sand talents, or seven and a half millions of dollars. At 
this time Caesar was becoming the great man of Rome. He 
had beaten the unfortunate Pompey in the great battle of 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 243 

riiarsalus, in which Hyrcanus imd Antipater had been of 
some service to him. These were also the days of trouble 
Ptolemy and Cleopatra, the last of the Lagidse in Egypt. 
I Caesar visited Egypt to adjust these difficulties, where he 
I had his remarkable adventure with tliat most remarkable of 
women. The object of this mission was greatly facilitated 
by the kindly aid of Hyrcanus and Antipater. 

While Caesar was in Syria, soon after his adventure in 
, Egypt, Aristobulus and his son Antigonus effected their 
escape from Rome, and also repaired to Syria, where they 
besought Caesar to restore them to their rights, and at the 
same time complained of the mal-administration of Hyr- 
canus and Antipater. But Caesar, partial to Hyrcanus, by 
I whom he had been aided, rejected their petition, and con- 
firmed Hyrcanus, not only in the office of high priest, but also 
restored to him the title and authority of king of Judea, 
which had been annulled by Gabinius, about ten years before. 
Antipater was appointed pro-consul and collector of the rev- 
i enues of Judea, under Hyrcanus. Antipater, it will be remem- 
bered, w^as an Idumean proselyte, and not a native Jew. He 
had tw^o sons, the oldest of whom was called Phassel and the 
second was Herod, in whose time Christ was born. To 
Phassel was oiven the government of Jerusalem, while his 
j brother was appointed governor of Galilee. By Ctesar's 
I permission the walls of Jerusalem, which had b?en thrown 
' down by Pompey, were rebuilt and strongly fortified, thus 
furnishing work for Titus many years afterward, in the final 
conquest of that city. The same year Caesar returned to 
Rome, sought the imperial dignity, and was slain in the 
Senate Chamber, 44 B. C. 

In 40 B. C, new actors appear in the field of strife. 
Crassus had lost his life in his rash enterprise against the 
Parthians, and that nation had followed the retreating 
Romans into Syria. Pacorus, their king, sent a detachment 



244 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

of his army into Judea, witli orders to place Antigo- 
nus, son of Aristobulus, upon the throne. Antigonus had 
also raised an army to accompany this expedition. Hyr- 
canus and Phocas ventured into the camp of the enemy to 
propose an accommodation, but were seized and made pris- 
oners. Herod escaped from Jerusalem just as the Parthians 
entered it. Antigonus was established upon the throne, 
and Hyrcanus and Phassel in chains put into his hands. 
Phassel being of foreign extraction, was condemned to 
death ; but to avoid a public execution, he dashed out his 
own brains against a wall. Antigonus spared the life of 
his uncle, Hyrcanus; but to render it impossible for him 
again to serve in the capacity of high priest, he smote off 
his right ear, as that blemish, according to the Mosaic law, 
rendered him unfit for the office. Hyrcanus was carried a 
captive into Parthia, where he remained, in Seleucia, many 
years. Herod fled first to Egypt, then to Rome. Caesar 
was dead ; his murderers were absent, and bold, blunt Marc 
Antony was then the ruling spirit of that nation. Herod 
was immediately taken under his protection, and treated 
with honor, considering that he was a poor boy, the son of 
Antipater, an Idumean exile. He had not himself expected 
to be promoted to power ; but, like his father in the pre- 
ceding reign, he desired some branch of the family of Hyr- 
canus to be restored to the throne, that he might serve 
under him. Hyrcanus had a daughter, Alexandra, who 
had been married to Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, 
who escaped on his way to Eome a prisoner. By this mar- 
riage they had a son, also called Aristobulus. He was 
thus the grandson of both Hyrcanus and Aristobulus H., 
who had been sent to Rome. Herod put forward the claims 
of young Aristobulus IH. But the Roman senate, under 
the influence of Marc Antony, did more than he requested, 
for they declared Herod himself king of Judea. Herod 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 245 

was only seven days in Eome, and accomplished more than 
all he intended, and returned hastily into Judea. 

Two years of vigorous effort were required for Herod to 
displace Antigonus, and gain for himself the gift of the 
Koman senate. He had to hesiege Jerusalem in due form, 
and, after a great struggle against a desperate rival, he 
ultimately took the city, only hy the aid of the governor 
and army of the city, and after six months' siege. Having 
at length triumphantly entered the city, his soldiers put 
great numhers of the Jews to death, and caused the streets 
to flow with streams of human Wood. The fate of Antigo- 
nus is to he deplored. Seeing that all was lost, he went 
out to Socius, the Syrian governor, and implored mercy. 
He was put in chains and sent to Antioch, where Antony 
had just arrived. He visited the prisoner, and intended to 
take him to Eome to adorn his triumphal procession. But 
Herod could never rest easy so long as a rival to the throne 
existed. He therefore caused the unfortunate prince to he 
proceeded against as a common criminal, and condemned to 
be put to death by the barbarous execution of lictors and 
axes. Thus perished the last king of the descendants of 
Judea. 

Hyrcanus still lived a prisoner in the East. While Herod 
was prosecuting the siege of Jerusalem, he went to Sama- 
ria and married Mariamna, the sister of Aristobulus IH., 
and grand-daughter of both Hyrcanus and Aristobulus H. 
She was the sister of that Antigonus against whom he was 
then at war, and whom he afterward caused to be put to 
death in the manner above related. 

Under favor of the Parthians, Hyrcanus was at length 
Bet at liberty and made high priest in that country, and 
treated with distinguished honor. But the love of his native 
country induced him to forego all these honors, and revisit 
Judea, where Herod caused him to be seized and put to 



246 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

death, notwithstanding he was the grandfatner of his wife. 
Herod reigned thirty-nine years. The last of the Jewish 
rulers had gone down to the grave hy violent death. An 
Idumean sits undisturhcd on the throne of that nation. 
The scepter of Judah has departed forever, and the king- 
dom from that time groaned under the reign of Herod the 
cruel, until the Shilo of promise came.* 

PTOLEMY PHYSCON, B. C. 145. 

Ptolemy Philometor had a brother, subsequently called 
Physcon, who at this time was a king of Cyrenia. Some 
of the nobility persuaded him to visit Alexandria, with the 
intention of placing him upon the throne of his late brother ; 
but Cleopatra, the widowed queen, was not disposed to 
acknowledge his claim. She endeavored to raise her son, 
the son of Philopater, an infant, to the throne. Each party 
had control of an army, and there was prospect of a civil 
war. By the influence of Plamminius, a Eoman officer, this 
war was delayed for a time, although it did not save Egypt 
from some most bloody scenes. A compromise was efiected. 
Physcon was to marry Cleopatra, educate her son, and finally 
transmit to him the crown. 

Their marriage was celebrated and the crown placed upon 
the head of Physcon, and, on the same day, he murdered 
the child of the queen in its mother's arms. 

The first seven or eight years of the reign of Physcon 
were marked by excessive debauchery and horrible acts of 
cruelty. Plis prime minister, Hierax, a native of Antioch, 

'•'Wise men of the East came to Judea to seek for him that was born 
king of the Jews. Not forty years before that event, the Parthians, who 
were the wise men of the East, had invaded Judea, captured Jerusalem, 
and carried the high priest captive into the East, where, doubtless, he 
had taught all around him of the expected coming of Shilo, as an event 
near at hand. Some of these wise men might have listened to the teach- 
ings of Hyrcanus on that subject, while a captive among them. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 247 

a faithful, brave and talented officer, was barely able to 
prevent his being dethroned and expelled. After the year 
136, we hear no more of Hierax. Pbyscon, as if abandoned 
to all that is evil, caused the murder of almost all the men 
who had elevated Philopater to the crown, or had held office 
under him. He surrounded himself with a foreign sol- 
diery, whose brutal and frequent murders caused great 
numbers of the inhabitants of Alexandria to flee from the 
city. These were generally the best, the most learned and 
most useful citizens. Alexandria became almost a desert. 
To repeople the desolate city, he sent proclamations to dif- 
ferent countries, offering great advantages to those who 
should settle there. Multitudes of strangers flocked in, to 
whom he gave the deserted houses of the inhabitants ; thus 
making this band of foreign adventurers dependent upon 
himself. 

Cleopatra, the queen and sister of Physcon, had a daugh- 
ter by her first husband, Philopater, also called Cleopatra. 
Physcon having taken a disgust at his sister-wife, became 
enamored of her child. In the year 130 B. C, he first 
ravished and subsequently married the younger Cleopatra, 
and repudiated the elder. 

His repeated acts of monstrous cruelty, caused him soon 
to be as much hated by his new subjects, whom he had 
invited to Alexandria, as he had been by the former inhabi- 
tants. Fearing some outbreak, he determined to put it out 
of their power to do him harm. He resolved to murder all 
the young men of the city, supposing tlioreby he should 
render the rest too feeble to resist him. On a day of pub- 
lic exercise, when the multitude were assembled, he ordered 
his foreign soldiery suddenly to surround the people, and 
murder the youth. Many were slain ; but this act threw 
the populace into great confusion and madness. They ran 



/ 

248 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

to tlie royal palace and set it on fire, hoping to consume 
the tyrant in it, but he had just effected his escape. 

He fled with his wife and his young son, Memphitis, to 
the island of Cyprus. The people immediately put the 
government of Egypt into the hands of Cleopatra, the 
elder. The fugitive king prepared to make war upon 
Alexandria and the queen. 

Physcon had an elder son in Alexandria, to whom he 
had given the government of Cyrenia. Fearing that the 
Alexandrians might make him king of Egypt, he sent for 
this son to visit him. The jealous father, to prevent a 
danger which had no foundation, except in his own guilty 
conscience, caused this son to he murdered. The barbarity 
of this act greatly increased the fury of his enemies, and 
caused many of his friends to forsake him. In Alexandria, 
they destroyed his statues, and added every possible insult 
to his name. Physcon believed that the elder Cleopatra 
had incited the Alexandrians to these deeds. He therefore 
determined upon a strange and unnatural revenge. Mem- 
phitis, his own son, was then with him in exile. He was 
the much beloved son of the elder Cleopatra. Physcon 
caused the throat of Memphitis to be cut, his body chopped 
to pieces, but his face to remain unmutilated. Then plac- 
ing the mangled body in a chest, he sent it to Alexandria. 
The queen's birthday was approaching. When it arrived, 
it was celebrated with great pomp and splendor. Just in 
the midst of the rejoicing, the agent of Physcon presents 
the chest. It is opened, and the queen, in the midst of 
her festivity, beholds the face and the mangled body of her 
much loved boy. Grief and lamentation succeed to the 
voice of mirth. The corpse was exposed everywhere in 
the streets to the gaze of the multitude, who became 
greatly excited, and declared that Physcon should never 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 249 

! more rule in Egypt. An army was raised to resist him, 

and committed to the care of Marsyas. 
I In 128 B. C, Physcon also raised an army, committing 
j it to the command of Hegelochus, and sent him against 
Alexandria. A bloody battle was fought, the army of 
Physcon was triumphant, and the queen's soldiers were 
mostly cut to pieces, their general taken prisoner, and 
sent to Physcon. 

Whether the bloody passions of Physcon had exhausted 
their energies and become quiet, or whether he had grown 
wiser by sad experience, we can not tell ; but he seems, at 
this time, to have abated somewhat of his ferocious dispo- 
sition. He gave Marsyas his liberty, without any penalty 
i whatever. 

The army of Cleopatra being greatly reducea, snc applied 
to Demetrius, king of Syria, for aid, promising him the 
crown of Egypt as his reward. Demetrius had married 
another Cleopatra, the eldest daughter of the queen of 
Egypt, by Philometor. Demetrius immediately marched 
I an army into Pelusium ; but trouble at home soon recalled 
! him again. Cleopatra, of Egypt, being now absolutely des- 
I titute of aid, fled to Syria with her daughter, with whom 
j she remained till the end of her life. 
I The next year, 127, Physcon entered Alexandria, and 
I recovered his throne and kingdom. To be revenged upon 
' Demetrius for attempting to aid the Alexandrians, he med- 
dled with the affairs of Syria, by setting up an imposter, 
j Zebina, in which he was for a time successful, and Deme- 
I trius lost his kingdom and his life. Subsequently, Zebina 
I not being willing to pay to Physcon the homage which he 
demanded, the king of Egypt again interfered in the affairs 
of Syria, and deprived Zebina of his ill gotten throne. 

Physcon died 117 B. C, after a reign of twenty-nine 
years, subsequent to the death of his brother. Years 



260 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

marked witli sucli horrible atrocities, that we look upon 
thein amazed and are unable to make comment. 

DEMETRIUS NICATOR AND THE SYRIAN CLEOPATRA. B. C. 145. 

We have seen that Demetrius Soter lost his life in war 
with Alexander Bala, the imposter, and that Bala had been 
defeated by the present monarch. 

Soter left three sons, two of whom, Demetrius, afterward 
called Nicator, and Alexander, had been sent to Cnidus, 
where they were at the time of their father's death. The 
younger was put to death by Bala, but the older somehow 
escaped his enemy. In the year 147, Demetrius IL, 
(Nicator), left his retreat, and, gathering an army, con- 
tended for the throne of his father. After several vicissi- 
tudes of fortune, Bala was defeated, and fled to Arabia, 
where he was treacherously murdered, and the body sent 
to Philopater, king of Egypt, and Demetrius became king 
of Syria 145 B. C. Cleopatra, the daughter of Philome- 
tor, and wife of Bala, was given as a wife to Demetrius 
Nicator. 

With the king of Egypt as a father-in-law, with the 
friendship of the Eomans, and with the affection of his own 
people, who had been terribly oppressed by the rigor and 
maladministration of Bala, a judicious king might expect 
a prosperous and peaceful life on the throne of Syria. But 
all such indications soon vanished. All external circum- 
stances are of no value, when indolence and debauchery 
reign at home. Demetrius was still young, unaccustomed 
to business, inexperienced in the affairs of State, and more 
devoted to pleasure than to the duties and responsibilities 
of oflBce. He committed the care of all business to Sos- 
thenes, the man in whose house he had found shelter in the 
days of his father's calamity. Gratitude to a benefactor 
is commendable ; but the prime minister was a foreigner, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 251 

having no sympathy with the people, and exercising no 
judgment, justice or discretion in the discharge of his 
official duties. His maladministration alienated the affec- 
tions of the people from the government. He had disarmed 
all the native soldiery, and surrounded the throne with a 
foreign guard, mostly Cretans. Nicator devoted himself 
to dehauchcry, while his people were suffering from the 
extortions of his minister, and the hutchery of all those 
who opposed his measures. 

What else could be expected than that aspirants would 
avail themselves of the general discontent to grasp at the 
crown ? Tryphon, who had heen a minister of State under 
Bala, began to figure. Bala had left a son, Antiochus, 
afterward called Theos, in Arabia, in the care of a prince 
of that country. To him Tryphon repaired, obtained the 
young Antiochus, brought him to Syria, and through the 
aid of the people, who were wearied with the evil ad- 
ministration of Demetrius, declared him king of Syria, 
and placed him on the throne — not long there to remain, 
but simply to form a stepping-stone for his protector, who 
intended to murder him in due time, and take the crown 
to himself. All this was accomplished the next year, (143 
B. C), and the throne was filled by Tryphon, whose cruelty 
and maladministration were equal to that of his pre- 
decesssor. 

EXPEDITION OF DEMETRIUS KICATOR IN THE EAST, B. C. 142. 

The extensive plains on the banks of the Euphrates and 
the Tigris, with their cities, once forming the kingdom of 
Babylonia, and afterward subject to Persia, had, in the par- 
tition of Alexander's empire, fallen to Syria, and had been 
governed by officers appointed at Antioch. Thus they 
became the captives of those whom they had carried captive, 



252 THE KDsGLOM OF BRASS. 

as foretold by Isaiah. Many Macedonian families were also 
merged witli the inhabitants of this district. 

A little further east was Parthia, at this time a power- 
ful kingdom. During the commotion of several preceding 
reigns in Syria, the Parthians, availing themselves of the 
embarrassments of their neighbors, had subdued Mesopo- 
tamia and attached it to their own empire. The Syrians 
were so much occupied with other matters that since the 
days of Antiochus the Great, or, perhaps, of Seleucus 
Callinicus, they had not been able to reclaim them. The 
Parthian yoke, however, was exceedingly severe, and the 
inhabitants desired a change of masters. 

Tryphon, having brought Antiochus Theos, the youthful 
son of Bala, out of Arabia, and driven out Demetrius, first 
placed Theos on the throne, and then murdered him ; after 
which he placed the crown upon his own head, and reigned 
at Antioch. Demetrius, defeated and repulsed from Anti- 
och, had retired to Seleucia, where, depressed by misfortune, 
he devoted his time to debauchery and sensuality. Thus 
stood affairs in 142 B. C. The people of Mesopotamia sent 
him an invitation to repair thither and assist them in 
throwing off the Parthian yoke. He hears and responds 
to the call. Ambition rouses him from his indolence, and 
paints future scenes of glory. Could he subdue the Par- 
thians and place himself at the head of the eastern prov- 
inces, he might, with their aid, expel Tryphon and regain 
the throne of Syria. 

To the East he repairs ; the Elamites, the Persians, the 
Bactrians and the mingled people join his standard, and 
the gathering hosts swell into a large army. In several 
engagements he repulsed the enemy, and all his bright 
anticipations gave promise of being realized. How delu- 
sive are the hopes of man ! how inconstant the smiles of 



THE KIXGDOM OF BRASS. 268 

fortune ! The Parthians, under pretense of negociating a 
peace with Demetrius, decoyed him into their power, and 
made a prisoner of him, and cut to pieces his entire army. 

Let us look back upon Syria. Although Tryphon had 
fexpelled the preceding king, murdered the last one, and 
usurped the throne, it must not be supposed that he had 
undisputed possession of all Syria. During these events, 
two distinct factions, with their governments, ruled in 
Syria at different places. Cleopatra, the daughter of 
Philometor, the former wife of Bala, and afterward of 
Demetrius, still lived, a woman, proud, resolute, determined 
to rule, and not easy to be subdued. 

Many of the generals and princes of Syria adhered to 
her, and even many of Tryphon^s men went over to her 
standard. She held her court at Ptolemais. 

When Cleopatra heard that her husband was taken cap- 
tive, she sought new alliances to sustain herself against 
the usurper. There was at this time one Antiochus, after-, 
ward called Sidetes, a brother of Nicator ; to him she sent 
an invitation to marry her, and offered him the crown, to 
the exclusion of her sons by Demetrius. This offer was 
accepted, and the new couple ruled for a time in Syria. 
In the spring of 139 B. C, Sidetes made war upon Tryphon, 
drove him out of his possession, and shut him up in the 
castle of Dora, from which he escaped, first to Arthesia 
and then to Sidon, where he was taken and put to death. 
In 138 B. C. we find Sidetes and Cleopatra in possession of 
the throne of Syria, which they held until 130 B. C. 

But Demetrius Nicator still lives, although a prisoner. 
Let us return to him. His imprisonment had not been 
severe. He had been sent to Hyrcana, where, except his 
liberty, he received all the attention due to a king. 
Ehodaguna, the daughter of the king of that country, was 
given him in marriage, and for about ten years, the days 



254 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

passed clieerily along. Twice, liowever, Demetrius attempted 
his escape, but was retaken. The Parthian kindness to 
Demetrius originated in selfish policy. That people con- 
templated the invasion of Syria, in which event Demetrius 
was to he used as the rival of his brother, to divide and 
diminish the strength of Syria. Sidetes, suspecting their 
purpose, did not wait to be invaded. Having crushed his 
enemy at home, he marched, in 138, an army of eighteen 
thousand soldiers to the banks of the Euphrates, and com- 
menced war to recover possession of Mesopotamia ; this 
expedition was at first successful, in three engagements he 
defeated his enemy, and recovered all the provinces of the 
East that had formerly belonged to Syria. But the winter 
came and nipped his prosperity in the bud. The winter 
came, and to supply his army with food, it was necessary 
to divide it. In this divided condition, the enemy fell upon 
them, and defeated the whole army. Sidetes, in attempt- 
ing to relieve the party nearest him, was slain. Thus termin- 
ated in defeat the entire expedition. 

Before the defeat of Sidetes, the Parthians, fearing the 
results of this war, had set Demetrius at liberty, that he 
might, by returning to Syria, and reclaiming his wife and 
the throne, cause the return of Sidetes. Demetrius had 
set out, but when Sidetes was slain, the Parthians having no 
further need of that assistance, sent a dispatch to retake and 
bring him back again. But he was already far beyond their 
power. During that year he arrived safely at Syria, re- 
married his Cleopatra, and assumed once more the govern- 
ment of Syria, amid great rejoicings and celebrations, wliile 
his people were overwhelmed in the deepest mourning for 
the loss of their friends in the war. 

ANTIOCHUS SIDETES 

Was the younger brother of Demetrius Nicator, and was 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 255 

ient with liim into Caria in their youth by their father, 
( Demetrius, before he was slain in the war with Bala. He 
i ieems to have been a moderately good king, and avoided the 
excesses either of cruelty or debauchery, for which so many 
bf the kings of Syria were notorious. He was exceedingly 
fond of hunting, on which account he received the name of 
I Sidetes, which, in Syriac signifies a hunter. In his war with 
Tryphon he exhibited skill and decision, which was speedily 
3rowned with success. In his expedition to the East he also 
exhibited military talent. But one defect was manifest in 
tiis arrangements, which was probably the cause of his ruin ; 
that defect was the large number of useless and effeminate 
persons that accompanied the army, and the extravagant 
luxury which exhausted their provisions. This army is thus 
described by Eollin : 

*' His army consisted of upward of eighty thousand men, 
well armed and disciplined. But the train of luxury had 
added to it so great a multitude of sutlers, cooks, pastry- 
i30oks, confectioners, actors, musicians and infamous women, 
that they were almost four times as many as the soldiers, foi 
they were reckoned to amount to about three hundred thou- 
I sand. There may be some exaggeration in this account, but 
,lf two-thii'ds were deducted, there would still remain a 
numerous train of useless mouths. The luxury of the 
I camp was in proportion to those that administered to it. 
Gold and silver glittered in all parts — even upon the boots 
of the private soldiers. The instruments and utensils of 
(the kitchen were silver, as if they had been marching to a 
I feast and not to war." 

, Cleopatra, although a second time married to Demetrius, 
' did not surrender her share in the government, and held her 
court still at Ptolemais, while her husband, with the army, 
remained at Antioch. Being at war with Ptolemy Physcon, 
t Demetrius was defeated in battle, and fled to Ptolemais, but 



256 THE KINGDOxM OF BRASS. i 

the unkind queen, who never forgave his marriage with the 
princess of Bactriana, shut the gates against him, and he \ 
was compelled to retire to Tyre, at which city he was over- 
taken and murdered. Cleopatra thus became sole possessor 
of the crown of Syria. About the year 127, Physcon, out 
of revenge for Demetrius having invaded Egypt many 
years before, sent an imposter, Alexander Zebina, to claim 
the throne. This Zebina was a native of Alexandria, but 
he pretended to be the son of Alexander Bala, whose melan- 
choly fate in Arabia some years before, we have given. It 
was in this war that Demetrius was defeated and compelled 
to fly to Tyre. The kingdom thus became divided between 
Zebina at Antioch, and Cleopatra at Ptolemais. The queen 
had sons by Demetrius. The oldest, Seleucus, now began to 
entertain a hope of gaining the throne of his father. He 
was declared king in 124, but his mother was more anxious 
to rule alone than to advance his interests. She also feared 
that, should Seleucus become fully established in the king- 
dom, he might avenge the death of his father, which, it was 
generally believed, was effected by her instigation. Within 
one year thereafter, in 123, she, with her own hand, plunged 
a dagger into the heart of her own royal son. 

About this time three of the principal officers of Zebina 
revolted from him and joined the standard of Cleopatra. 
The queen fearing to be left quite alone, caused her second 
son to be proclaimed king. But he was quite young, and 
she therefore retained all the power. This son was called 
Antiochus Grypus, the latter name referring to his great 
nose. Physcon having been the agent by whose means 
Zebina had risen to power, demanded courtesy and service of 
him, which Zebina refused to yield. On this account Phys- 
con determined to destroy him whom he had first elevated to 
power. He therefore settled all difficulties with Cleopatra, 
gave his own daughter, Tryphena, in marriage to Grypus, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 257 

and aided him in n contest for the throne of Zebina, who 
was defeated and deprived of power. He retired to Antioch, 
where he formed a design of plundering the temple of 
Jupiter, which, being discovered, so exasperated the people 
that they furiously ran upon him and murdered him. Thus 
ended the life of the second imposter, and Grypus took the 
government of Syria. 

Cleopatra, still unwilling to divide the power between 
herself and any one, once more prepared to murder her 
royal son, and confer the title of king upon another 
younger child, the son of Sidetes. To accomplish that 
purpose, she prepared a bowl of poison, which she pre- 
sented to Grypus one day as he returned hot from some 
exercise. That prince having somehow been apprised of 
her design, very respectfully requested his royal mother 
first to drink ; but, as she positively refused to do so, he 
called in witnesses, and, after charging her with the crime 
of intending to murder him, compelled her to swallow the 
draught, which took immediate effect, and ended the life 
of one of the worst of women, whose unparalleled crimes 
i had been the destruction of her family and the scourge of 
the state. She had been the wife of three kings of Syria, 
, and the death of two of them she had occasioned. She 
I was the mother of four kings, one of whom she slew with 
her own hand, and attempted to destroy another. She died 
in the year 120 B. C. 

PTOLEMY LATHYRUS, B. C. 117. 

All the sons of Physcon, by his first Cleopatra, had been 
slain by himself. By the second, who was the daughter of 
the first, he left two sons, Lathyrus and Alexander, and 
three daughters, Cleopatra, Selene and Tryphena. He 
had also an illegitimate son, Apion, to whom he gave the 
22 



258 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

kingdom of Cyrene, and who, at his death, willed his crown 
to the Eomans. 

Physcon, by his will, left the kingdom of Egypt to his 
queen, Cleopatra, and to whichever of the two sons she 
might choose. Of the wife of Physcon we know but little 
until after her husband's death. Left alone and clothed 
with the royal authority, she exhibited all the enormity of 
an adept in crime and cruelty. She had long entertained 
an implacable hatred to her eldest son. Before his father's 
death, Physcon, through her influence, had banished him to 
the island of Cyprus. The queen-mother preferred to asso- 
ciate with herself, in the government, her younger son, 
Alexander, because he was of a mild and peaceful spirit, 
and she could better control him than a prince who had 
energy to claim his share in the administration. The peo- 
ple of Alexandria were not disposed to acquiesce in this 
arrangement. They therefore disregarded the condition of 
the will, and, recalling Lathyrus from Cyprus, placed him 
on the throne to reign jointly with his mother. In these 
days it had become quite common for the princes of Egypt 
to marry their own sisters. The eldest widow and mother 
of the queen, it will be recollected, had been the wife of 
two of her brothers. Lathyrus was greatly attached to his 
elder sister, Cleopatra ; but the imperious mother compelled 
her royal son, before he could share in the government, to 
renounce all claim to her, and marry his second sister, Se- 
lina. This arrangement proved a very unhappy one, as 
will be seen in the result. Tryphena, the third sister, had 
married Grypus, king of Syria. Cleopatra being at lib- ' 
erty, also married a prince of Syria, and both of these 
daughters were ultimately put to death in the most vio- 
lent and brutal manner, for which their monstrous mother 
seemed not to grieve, so intent was she upon ruling absolute 



THE KINGDOM OF J3RASS. 259 

and alone. To her son Alexander, she gave the govern- 
ment of Cyprus, that she might rely upon him and his 
army for aid to check the measures of Lathyrus, her asso- 

I ciate on the throne. 

In the year 109 B. C, the Jews being at war with their 
near neighbors, besieged Samaria. The inhabitants of that 
city, in their distress, sent to Lathyrus for aid, and he 
promptly sent them six thousand soldiers. Cleopatra was 
under the influence of the Jewish counsellors, who had 
built a temple in Egypt. She disapproved of this meas- 
ure, and threatened to deprive him of his share in the 

, government for having encroached upon what she deemed 
her prerogative. In the year 107, she took from him his 

; wife, Selene, by whom he had already two sons, both of 

- whom died when quite young. Lathyrus, by his mother^s 
; authority, was banished from Egypt. He took charge of 

the little kingdom of Cyprus, and Alexander, who was the 
i king of that island, was recalled, to take the throne of 

Egypt. This had been the original intention of Cleopatra, 
'^ whose purposes had been frustrated by the people some ten 
j years before. 

1 The manner in which the imperious queen effected this 
q change, was a fair specimen of woman's wiles and intrigue, 
I showing how little credit ought to be given at any time to 
: the testimony of designing women, when they complain of 

- violence or insult. In a vast majority of cases, such accu- 
>; sers, fired with passion, or having some secret object to 
ijgain, are utterly unworthy of credit. Cleopatra caused 
I two eunuchs, by whom she was attended, to be wounded 
'land then exhibited to the populace, asserting that Lathy- 
•irus had committed violence. They declared that he had 

attempted to murder his mother, and that they had received 
I these wounds in her defense. The fiction succeeded. The 
jtindiscriminating populace, who never weigh carefully the 



260 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

circumstances, and always give heed to tne complaint of 
woman, become enraged at the victim of her false accusa- 
tions. Let it not, however, be forgotten that there is a 
just God, who declares that with what measure you mete, 
it shall be measured again, as we shall see in the fate of 
that false accusing woman. 

The people were so excited, they would have torn Lathy- 
rus to pieces had he not made a hasty retreat to Cyprus. 
Here he had lived before his father's death. The wrongs 
he had previously received from an imperious mother, were 
known, and the people gave no credit to the fictions of the 
queen. Lathyrus reigned on the island of Cyprus from 
that time, 107 B. C, until 99 B. C, about seven years, and 
Alexander, son of Physcon, became king of Egypt. 

The Jews and the more northern people of Palestine and 
Samaria were still engaged in war with each other. Pto- 
lemais was besieged by the Jews. The inhabitants sent to 
Cyprus for aid, which Lathyrus promptly furnished them. 
The opposite party sent to Cleopatra, in Egypt, to which 
call she also responded, and thus mother and son were 
ranged on opposite sides, and kept up the war in Palestine 
against each other, from 105 to 101 B. C. After shedding 
a vast amount of blood, they each retired, leaving the field 
of controversy about as they found it. 

At this time, two brother princes were contending for the 
throne of Syria — Antiochus Cyzicus and Antiochus Gry- 
pus — each of whom had married a sister of Lathyrus, and 
both of whose wives had been murdered by the opposing 
factions. Lathyrus now entered into a confidential arrange- 
ment with Antiochus the Cyzicenian, with the hope of so 
strengthening himself as to regain the throne of Egypt. 
A knowledge of these facts aroused the ire of Cleopatra. 
She therefore took her daughter Selene, the wife of Lathy- 
rus and gave her in marriage to Grypus, the opponent of 



THE KINGL»OM OF BRASS. 261 

the prince with whom Lathjrus was in alliance. She also 
furnished him treasures to carry on the war. The war be- 
tween the two brother princes of Syria, prevented Lathyrus 
from receiving aid from that source, so that he was com- 
pelled to abandon, for the time, the hope of regaining the 
throne of Egypt. 

But light arose in another quarter. Ptolemy Alexander, 
the brother of Lathyrus, whom the queen-mother had 
placed on the throne, was touclied with some feelings of 
compassion for the exile, as well as disgusted with the 
conduct of his mother. He saw that he only had the title, 
and not the authority of a monarch. He saw that all 
these persecutions of his brother arose from his having 
dared, in one instance, to act for himself. He also saw 
that no crime restrained his mother when she had a 
favorite scheme to accomplish, and he feared that whenever 
he should be in her way she would not hesitate to sacrifice 
him. These feelings were completely roused when his 
mother took the wife of his brother and gave her to his 
enemy. Alexander, disgusted wdth the court, determined 
to resign and retire into peaceful obscurity. For this act 
of justice he deserves our highest esteem, although he may 
have been afterward guilty of an offense for which there 
was great provocation. Alexander retired ; but the people, 
who had witnessed the conduct of the queen, and her 
dreadful temper, were determined she should not rule 
alone. With the utmost effort and the greatest entreaty, 
they persuaded Alexander to return and resume a share of 
the government. Ten years more rolled along, when 
Cleopatra, unwilling to share the government with any 
one, determined to murder Alexander. He became aw^are 
of her intentions, and, to save himself, put her to death, 
in the year 89 B. C. Thus the vile woman, who, to raise 
Alexander to the throne, falsely accused her son of an 



262 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

intention to murder her, is finally put to death by a son. 
Lathyrus did not avenge the wrong he had received ; but 
God poured upon her the curse which her false accusation 
merited. Worthy to die was this monster in wickedness. 
Let us review the principal acts of her life. She had mar- 
ried her mother's husband, banished that mother from her 
home and her kingdom, and, as some authors say, subse- 
quently murdered her. She had heard with indifference of 
the murder of her two daughters. She had compelled her 
eldest son to marry his sister, against his will, and then 
rudely tore that very wife away from him and gave her to 
his enemy, and now sought to slay her youngest son. 
What judgment shall calm, sober reason pass upon Alex- 
ander ? He was King of Egypt ; it was his duty to 
execute the laws. He caused the execution of his mother 
in self-defense, for she was plotting against his life. Her 
crime was one for which, by all just law, she had forfeited 
her life, and if capital punishment be justifiable, she 
ought to die; and Alexander was the proper person to 
order her execution. His act, therefore, though awful, can 
scarce be called a crime. But the unthinking populace 
judged not so. They knew and detested the old queen 
for her vice and cruelty ; yet they were thrown into a panic 
of madness because Alexander had slain his mother. In a 
violent and turbulent manner they expelled him from the 
kingdom, from which they would not, a few years previ- 
ously, permit him peaceably to retire. Lathyrus was now 
recalled to the throne of Egypt, to which he had a just 
title, although the treatment of Alexander was most 
unrighteous. He retired to foreign countries, and made, 
subsequently, several eff*orts to return to Egypt, in the 
last of which he perished, leaving a son of the same name, 
Alexander I. Lathyrus recovered the throne and held it 
about seven vears. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 263 

In the year 81 B. C. the people of Thebes, a splendid 
city of upper Egypt, which had long before been desolated 
by Cambyses the mad, and which had, in some measure, 
revived, refused to pay tribute to Lathyrus, and broke out in 
open rebellion. The cause of this outbreak is not distinctly 
known. Lathyrus marched against Thebes, subdued the 
rebellion, wreaked his vengeance upon the people, and deso- 
lated the city, mutilating many of its ancient temples. In 
the latter part of the same year Lathyrus died, leaving his 
throne and kingdom to Cleopatra Berenice, his only legiti- 
mate child, the daughter of Selene. 

Cleopatra Berenice, by the voice of the people, ascended 
the throne of her father in the year 80 B. C. 

Alexander II., son of him who slew his mother, had 
experienced great vicissitudes of fortune, had received an 
excellent education under Grecian masters, had traveled in 
many foreign countries, and had secured the friendship of 
Eome. On the death of Lathyrus, Sylla, the dictator of 
Eome, sent Alexander to Egypt to take the throne of his late 
uncle. Cleopatra, his cousin, had now been reigning about 
six months. The nobles of Egypt, not disposed to yield 
up her claims to the throne, and yet not daring to offend 
Rome, determined that i\lexander should marry the queen, 
and that they should reign jointly. But either he did not 
fancy his cousin for a wife, or perhaps was ambitious of 
reigning alone. He was displeased with the arrangement, 
but acquiesced. The marriage was celebrated, and nine- 
teen days afterward he caused the queen to be put to death, 
thus securing to himself the entire possession of the gov- 
ernment, which he held fifteen years. After a reign of 
seven years, he was annoyed by pretenders to the throne. 
In the year 73 B. C, Selene, once the wife of Lathyrus, 
and afterward of Grypus, of Syria, being the daughter of 
Physcon, began to claim Egypt for her sons. They visited 



264 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Borne, and after two years of ineffeciual effort to induce 
the Romans to declare tliem heirs to the throne of Egypt, 
they returned disappointed into Asia. Eight years more 
Alexander continued to reign in Egypt, when, in 65, his 
mal-administration so exasperated the people that they 
took up arms against him and expelled him from Egypt. 
After an ineffectual appeal to Pompey for aid, he retired 
to Tyre, where he died in the year 63 B. C, having 
bequeathed, by will, his kingdom and treasures to the 
Eomans. Lathyrus had an illegitimate son, Auletes, who 
was immediately called to the throne of Egypt. 



THE DECLINE OF THE EMPIRE OF SYRIA, B. C. 120 to 65. 

Actors. — Antiochus Grypus, son of Nicator ; Tryphena 
and Selene, his wives ; Seleucus, Philip, Demetrius Eucerus, 
and Antigonus Dyonysius, his sons ; Antiochus Cyzicus, son 
of Sidetes ; Cleopatra, his wife ; Antiochus Eusebus, their 
son ; Selene, his wife ; Tigranes of Armenia, Antiochus 
Asiaticus, and Seleucus, sons of Selene. 



The Syrian Cleopatra, preeminent for her crimes, had 
been the wife of three kings. In each case the subsequent 
marriage preceded the death of the former husband, and 
after the death of the third she re-married the second, whose 
death she afterward effected. She was also privy to the 
murder of the first. These three husbands were : Alexan- 
der Bala, who was betrayed and murdered in Arabia; 
Demetrius Nicanor, who was murdered at Tyre ; and Sidetes, 
who was slain in battle with the Parthians. She subse- 
quently murdered, with her own hands, her eldest son by 
."Nicanor, and afterward attempted to poison the second, who 
compelled her to drink the draught which caused her imme- 
diate death. 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 265 

This brings us to the date of our present subject, B. C. 
120. On the death of Cleopatra, her second son Antiochus 
I ascended the throne, and received the name of Grypus; on 
I account of his great nose. Some three years previously he 
I had married Tryphena, the daughter of Ptolemy Physcon, 
king of Egypt. Cleopatra had another son Antiochus, by 
Sidetes. On the death of Sidetes, when she re-married 
Nicanor, fearing for the safety of this child, she sent him 
into Asia Minor — in the city of Cyzicum, where he 
remained and received what in those days was deemed an 
I excellent education. From the name of the place of his 
exile, he was ever after called Cyzicus, or the Cyzican. 
After the death of Nicanor, he returned, but his presence 
I became obnoxious to his royal brother, and Grypus, who 
had been trained in his mother's school in the art of remov- 
ing rivals, attempted to poison him. Cyzicus escaped from 
Antioch, and the administration of Grypus glided smoothly 
along for about six years, when the sea of political life 
i became again tempestuous, and granted no calm to Syria 
for many years. Grypus, pursuing the indiscreet policy of 
his predecessors, since the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, 
■Undertook to conquer and exterminate the Jewish nation. 

Accordingly, in 114, he marched with a large army into 
Judea. This was the time for the fugitive, who felt that 
in self-defense he must retaliate. He had spent years of 
his exile in secret, but not in idleness. The place of his 
retirement is not known. While Grypus was marching 
along the defile of Judea, intent upon conquest, intelligence 
reached him that Cyzicus was near Antioch with a large 
army. Grypus now found something else to do than fight 
the Jews. He hastened home to defend his throne and 
kingdom from the grasp of his brother. Cleopatra, the 
widow of Ptolemy Physcon, now ruled with despotic sway in 
Egypt, in connection with her son Lathyrus. She had 
28 



266 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

three daughters — Cleopatra, Tryphena, and Selene. Try- 
phena had already married Grypus, Selene ^Yas the wife of 
Lathyrus, and Cleopatra remained unmarried. Just as the 
two brothers were engaging in this war, Cleopatra the 
younger, through her mother's influence, married Cyzicus, 
bringing as her dowry a large number of soldiers, many of 
whom, through the influence of the elder queen, had deserted 
Grypus, and joined the standard of the daughter, and with 
her united their interest with Cyzicus. The two parties 
were now about equal in strength — one being commanded 
by the king, the other by his rebel brother, their wives 
being sisters. 

In the year 113 the combatants met in the plains, and 
engaged in battle. The king was victorious. Cyzicus fled 
into Antioch, and leaving his Cleopatra, as he supposed, in 
safety in that city, departed to raise additional forces to try 
again the field of battle. Grypus besieged and captured 
Antioch ; Cleopatra fled to Daphne, and sought for safety 
in the temple — the same retreat to which, many years 
before, the unfortunate Berenice, sister of Evergetes, fled 
from the wrath of Loadicea. We might have expected 
kindness and sympathy among the female members of the 
royal household toward each other, even if their husbands 
from state policy were rivals ; but this was practically an 
age of woman's rights, or, at least, of woman's authority in 
government, and we are abundantly taught in history that 
lovely as woman is in her appropriate sphere, when clothed 
with power and instated into the rough ways of the world, 
females are by far less humane and more implacably cruel 
than the sterner sex ever became. Tryphena urged her 
royal husband to put Cleopatra to death, even though she 
had taken shelter in the sanctuary. Grypus had more 
humanity. He urged that she was under the special pro- 
tection of the gods, whose temple must not be profaned — 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 267 

that it was never honorable in war to put to death innocent 
women, however offensive might he the conduct of their 
husbands — and, above all, that she was the sister of the 
queen, and, finally, that her death would be of no avail to 
the stability of his throne. Alas, how often in this malig- 
nant world humanity is deemed an offense, and kindly 
feelings of compassion for the unfortunate — feelings which 
ought to do honor to him in whose breast they dwell — are 
made the occasion to blacken the character and traduce the 
fair name of her who possesses these virtues! The kindly 
feelings of Grypus for the unfortunate wife of his brother 
roused the jealousy of Triphena against her sister, lest 
Grypus should have a more ardent regard for her than 
mere compassion. She hated Cleopatra for having married 
their rival, but still more for having found compassion in 
the breast of Grypus. Against the orders of Grypus, and 
without the knowledge of that monarch, Tryphena, with a 
band of soldiers, repaired to Daphne, and attempted to force 
the fugitive from the temple. Cleopatra grasped the altar, 
and refused to loose her hold, and the soldiers cut off her 
hands. Holding up the bloody stumps, she implored the 
gods to avenge the wrong she had suffered, and the sacri- 
lege committed in their holy temple, w^hose altars no longer 
protected the victim. The sister, unmoved by the spectacle, 
ordered the soldiers to despatch her, which was immediately 
done. 

Thus, after but one year of connubial felicity, perished 
the daughter of the queen of Egypt, by whose intrigue she 
had been prevented from marrying the object of her choice, 
and compelled to marry this prince of Syria, for whose sake 
she lost her life in a most barbarous manner. Little, how- 
ever, did that mother regard the fate of her daughter, 
nor that of Tryphena, which happened about one year after, 
so intent was she upon her own schemes of ambition against 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

her sons m Egypt. Our sensibilities would be shocked at 
a recital of the barbarous deeds, were not the whole history 
of these times replete with instances of fearful cruelties and 
monstrous barbarities, the exhibition of which blunts our 
finer feelings. We learn here tliat where the gospel has 
not been taught, with its golden rule, the human race are 
without natural afiPection — implacable, unmerciful. 

The next year after this terrible butchery of Cleopatra, 
112 B. C, Cyzicus, having been absent raising troops, re- 
turned to Syria, fought a second battle, defeated Grypus, 
and captured Tryphena, and put her to death by torture, in 
revenge for the murder of his wife. Thus perished the 
two sisters whose ambitious mother had entangled them in 
the affairs of Syria, without consulting their wishes. 

The fate of Tryphena may have been merited, although 
its severity seemed to have done no good. When will the 
possessors of temporary power learn the divine truth so 
often taught in the history of' the world, that a day of retri- 
bution will surely overtake them — that " with what mea- 
sure ye mete, it shall be measured again." It was now the 
time for Grypus to fly, and leave Cyzicus to take the 
throne. He retired to Aspendus, in Pamphilia, and 
remained a number of months. But the following year, 
he returned to Syria, at the head of an army, prepared to 
renew the war. The brothers appear now to have opened 
their eyes to the result of their quarrels. They had but- 
chered each other's wives — they had desolated the country 
— they had alienated their people, and exhausted their 
treasury — they had not enjoyed their possessions, nor could 
either of them, if successful for a time in expelling the other, 
enjoy any permanent peace. After learning so costly a 
lesson, they agreed upon terms of peace, by dividing the 
kingdom. Cyzicus possessed Phoenicia, Celo-Syria, and the 
plains of the south, with Damascus for its capital ; while 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 269 

Grypus remained at Antioch, and ruled the rest of Syria — 
a finale to a long war, wliich miglit have been obtained as 
well without it, and presenting a strong argument in favor 
of modern doctrines of peace. 

For a short period of time, now, there was a Syria north 
and a Syria south. These arrangements were not, however, 
of long duration. Por the following ten years, Syria was 
the theater of no remarkable event, except the siege of 
Samaria by the Jews, in which Grypus participated. Of 
this siege an account is given in a separate article. About 
this time, Egypt was the scene of royal family quarrels. 
The old mother queen had driven her son Lathyrus from 
the throne, who had fled to Cyprus, where he still ruled. 

In the year 101, Lathyrus, anxious to regain his throne 
and kingdom, formed an alliance with Cyzicus, of Damas- 
cus, who repaired to aid him in the undertaking. Cleopa- 
tra aware of that fact, and a more sagacious diplomatist 
than either of them, found means to prevent Lathyrus from 
receiving the expected aid. Selene, the third daughter of 
the queen, yet lived ; she had been the wife of Lathyrus, 
by whom she was the mother of two sons, who died in 
infancy. "When Lathyrus was deprived of the throne by 
his ambitious mother, Selene was taken from him and 
retained in Egypt. To prevent the king of Damascus 
from aiding Lathyrus, Cleopatra brought forth Selene and 
gave her to Grypus, with assurances of aid in carrying on 
the war against his brother, in the attempt again to recover 
the government of Syria. This, as Cleopatra expected and 
desired, employed the king of Damascus, so that he could 
afibrd no aid to Lathyrus, who was compelled for the pres- 
ent to abandon his expectations. 

After an unsuccessful struggle between the two brothers, 
lasting nearly four years, with no definite result, Grypus 
was assassinated by one of his ofiicers, Herocles by name, 



270 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

leaving at his death the country still engaged in civil war. 
Grypus had reigned twenty-seven years from the death of 
liis mother. The crown passed to his oldest son. He left 
five sons by Tryphena. These were Seleucus Antiochus, 
Philip and Echelus (who were twins), Eucerus Demetrius 
and Antigonus Dionysius. On the death of Grypus, Cyzi- 
cus invaded Antioch ; but, though he took the capital, he 
could not subdue Demetrius, who had succeeded his father, 
and was at the head of an army. The uncle and nephew 
engaged in battle. Seleucus was victorious. Cyzicus was 
captured and put to death, and the quarrel of the father's 
brothers descended to their sons. Thus, in the first year 
after his father's death, Seleucus found himself at the head 
of all Syria — not however to hold that position in peace. 
Cyzicus had left a son Eusel^es, who retired from Antioch, 
eluding Seleucus and escaped to Aridas, an island on the 
Phoenician coast, north of Berytus. Returning the next 
year, 93 B. C., with a large army, he attacked his cousin 
Seleucus, defeated him, and regained the throne at An- 
tioch. 

Seleucus fled from that city and fortified himself in 
one of his other cities, where, with a few soldiers, he estab- 
tablished himself. But he levied so great a tax upon the 
people to support him, that they became enraged, rose in 
revolt, surrounded his house and set fire to it, and Seleucus 
and all his men perished in the flames. The twin brothers, 
Antiochus and Philip, were still near Antioch. Exasper- 
ated at the fate of Seleucus, they determined upon revenge ; 
they raised a small army, proceeded to Cilicia, invaded the 
guilty city and burned it to the ground, putting most of its 
inhabitants to the sword. On their homeward route, they 
met, on the banks of the Orontes, a detachment of soldiers 
from the army of Eusebes, who gave them battle and de- 
feated them. Philip made a good and safe retreat, with 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 271 

part of his army ; but Antiochus, in attempting to swim tlie 
river, perished. Thus ended the campaign of 92 B. C. 

SELEUCUS. 

Selene, the wife of Grypus, after his death, was so fortu- 
nate as to retain the government of a part of Syria, during 
all this struggle and conflict between the family of Cyzicus 
and Grypus. Eusebes, after the battle of Orontes, in which 
one of his opponents was killed and the other retreated 
with his army, did not feel entirely safe from his enemies, 
and desired to strengthen his cause. He therefore married 
Selene, the stepmother of his rival, and attached her pos- 
sessions to his own. Lathyrus, her first husband, still lived. 
She had been forcibly and unjustly taken from him and 
given to Grypus. The second act, of marrying Eusebes, 
exasperated him, and he determined to give the new couple 
trouble. Demetrius Eucerus, the fourth son of Grypus, 
was at Cnidus, in Caria. Lathyrus sent for him, and while 
Eusebes and Philip w^ere occupied in a war with each other 
in the north, Eucerus was crowned king of Damascus and 
the south of Syria, thus bringing a third competitor in the 
field. During the same year, Philip and Eusebes engaged 
in battle, in which Eusebes, with all the auxiliary forces 
obtained by marrying his rivaFs stepmother, was defeated. 
He fled to the Parthians, where, for a number of years, he 
remained an exile. 

The empire was now divided between Philip and Deme- 
trius. But. this w^as not the end of strife. Antiochus Dio- 
nysius, the fifth son of Grypus, began to attract attention. 
He suddenly appeared in Syria at the head of an army, 
marched against and defeated his brother Eucerus, and 
established himself on the throne in his stead, w^hich he 
occupied three years. 

In 90 B. C, Eusebes returned from Parthia with a large 



272 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

army, marched once more against Philip and contended for 
the throne of Syria. Strife, conflict, battles, cruel murders, 
barbarous wars, and no definite result, accompanied by all 
the distressing calamities of a cruel war, raged throughout 
all Syria for the space of seven years. The people became 
exasperated under their calamities. Their patience became 
exhausted ; they determined to deliver themselves from the 
yoke of all the race of the Seleucidse, and seek for them- 
selves a foreign master, who should not be subject to the 
quarrels of these native princes. 

Some were disposed to give all Syria to Egypt, but it 
was remembered that the Ptolemys had ever been the ene- 
mies to their country. Some thought it best to offer the 
crown to Mithridates, king of Pontus, but he was then 
engaged in a war with the Romans. None thought of a 
republic. That form of government was almost entirely 
unknown in Asia, and the people of Syria were illy pre- 
pared to exercise the duties of such a state. After much 
debate, it was agreed to call to the throne of Syria, Ti- 
granes, king of Armenia, and he, either in person or by 
deputies, ruled them eighteen years. 

THE FALL OF SYEIA, B. C. 65. 

The land of Laban and Bethuel, of the Benhadads and 
the Zael, had been subjected to the power of Nineveh, of 
Babylon, and of Persia, and with the latter country had 
been conquered by Alexander the Great, and, after his 
death, formed one of the four heads into whick his empire 
was divided, according to the words of Daniel. After the 
short, but tempestuous reign of Perdiccas and Antigonus, 
Syria fell to the lot of Seleucus, in whose family the crown 
remained, until, by the invitation of the inhabitants, Ti- 
granes, king of Armenia, took the throne, 83 B. C. 

Whatever of irresistible pressure from a foreign fooj or 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 273 

of heroic deeds of unsuccessful valor against superior forces, 
may be attendant upon the fall of a republic, in a king- 
dom it will uniformly be found that public vices and mal- 
administration at home prepare the way for that fall, just 
as intemperance and inattention to the laws of animal life 
invite the disease which destroys the body. 

The history of the world already demonstrates that the 
great ambition of nations ever holds the people responsible 
for the conduct of their rulers, as honor makes it the duty 
of each individual, instead of shrinking from politics, 
because of the ignominy attached to that subject, to read 
in the very ignominy the evidences of approaching evil, 
and with pure hearts and clear minds to understand the 
designs of government, and aid in correcting error, before 
the remedy is too late. The malignant hatred and leopard- 
like treachery of the Seleucidae is manifest in these wars. 
Fighting, one branch of the family against the other, they 
diminished their numbers, exhausted their treasuries, and 
alienated their subjects, until they were an easy prey for 
any enemy. The products of the plains, raised by the 
industry of the inhabitants, instead of storing their barns 
and feeding their children, were consumed by the soldiery. 
The fine groves of figs and grapes, the mulberry and olive, 
had been destroyed by soldiers of hostile factions. The 
authors of all these calamities disregarded the interests of 
their -quiet subjects, and were only intent upon their per- 
sonal preferment. But their evil deeds disgusted the 
w^orld, and when the time of necessity was upon them, 
none sympathized with them, demonstrating to princes and 
to presidents, to noblemen and republicans, to men in public 
life and to private individuals, that he who would have 
friends must act righteously. 

The administration of the Armenian, either in person or 
by his deputies, was no less terrible or oppressive upon 



274 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Syria, than upon many other provinces. The people changed 
masters, but not burdens. 

Except Selene and her two sons, the Seleucidse were 
hunted out of Syria, and never more heard of. About 80 
B. C, a long and distressing war was commenced by the 
Komans against Mithridates, king of Pontus, a state lying 
south of the Black Sea. A full account of this invasion 
is reserved for another work on Asia Minor, and only so 
much of that matter is here spoken of as involved the fate 
of Syria. 

Tigranes had long before married a daughter of Mithri- 
dates. Although bitter quarrels existed between them, the 
son-in-law could not withhold aid from the father in his 
extremities. Mithridates, being defeated, fled to Armenia, 
and found protection with Tigranes. This event caused 
the Roman army, under Lucullus, to march into Armenia. 
After various successes, both Pontus and Armenia, with 
their kings, were finally subdued by Pompey, who had suc- 
ceeded Lucullus in command, and Tigranes purchased an 
ignominious peace, and was permitted to hold a nominal 
government over Armenia, on condition of surrendering to 
the Eomans Syria and Mesopotamia, with whatever claim 
he might have upon Judea. About 70 B. C, Tigranes 
having occasion to recall his deputies from Syria, to aid 
him against the Romans, Antiochus Asiaticus, eldest son 
of Selene, emerged from obscurity, and ascended the throne 
of his ancestors. He was the eldest, and, except one 
brother, the only known survivor of the Selucidse. 

There being no opponent, he reigned about three jearSy 
the country being crossed and re-crossed continually by the 
Roman armies, in their war with Tigranes and Mithridates. 
But on the final overthrow of these princes, in 65 B. C, 
he sought the friendship of the Romans, and their acknow- 
ledgment of his rights to the throne of his fathers. He 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 275 

had taken no pfirt in the recent war; lie had in no way 
forfeited his claim, which was just, if the claim of kings 
can ever be just. Why ought not his right to have been 
respected? Pompey declared that, by right of conquest, 
Syria belonged to Rome, and, having an army flushed with 
recent victory to sustain him, he dismissed Antiochus, with- 
out title or kingdom. The people, who, for several suc- 
cessive reigns, had received no protection from their sover- 
eigns, were not disposed to aid him in defending his 
throne. Indeed, it mattered little to the multitude who 
ruled, whether native prince or foreign tyrant. 

Thus by conquest and usurpation the third head of the 
third beast passed to the Romans, the fourth beast, dread- 
ful and terrible ; for what God by the mouth of His 
prophet has ordained shall surely come to pass. 

From this time the history of Syria is blended with that 
of Rome, until the great partition, when it fell to the lot 
of the eastern empire, whose capital was Byzantium, now 
Constantinople. About 632 A. C, Syria was conquered by 
the Saracens, and has been in possession of some branch of 
the great Mohammedan family until the present time. Pre- 
vious to the conquest of Alexander, the language of Syria 
I had been native and peculiar, with no admixture of Per- 
j sian, but after that event the Greek language gained grad- 
' ually the ascendancy, and, in common with many nations 
! at the time of Christ, was the principal language spoken, 
. which greatly facilitated the spread of the Gospel, as most, 
if not all of the disciples, spoke that language. At the 
once proud capital of Syria the disciples were first called 
Christians. 

SYNOPSIS OF THE KINGS OF SYRIA. 

Seleucus Nicator was assassinated by the ungrateful 
Ptolemy, whom he assisted. Antiochus Soter died; the 



276 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

manner of his death is not given. Antiochus Theos, pois- 
oned by his wife, Laodicea. Seleucus Callinicus died a 
prisoner in Parthia. Antiochus Ceraunus, poisoned by his 
officers, in Asia Minor. Antiochus the Great, slain by the 
inhabitants of Susiana, for attempting to rob their temple. 
Seleucus Philopater, poisoned by his officers. Antiochus 
Epiphanes died a distressing death, by worms, on his return 
from Persepolis. Antiochus Eupator, slain by his brother, 
Demetrius Soter. Demetrius Soter, slain by Alexander 
Bala, the imposter. Alexander Bala, beheaded in Arabia, 
by king Demetrius Nicanor, who was in turn assassinated at 
Tyre, by order of his wife. Antiochus Eutheus, slain by his 
minister, Tryphon. Tryphon, captured and put to death in 
a war with Sidetes. Antiochus Sidetes, slain in battle with 
the Parthians. Zebina, expelled and slain for attempting 
to rob the temple at Antioch. Seleucus V., slain by his 
mother, Cleopatra. Grypus, assassinated by his officer, 
Herocles. Cyzicus, taken prisoner and slain by Seleucus 
VI. Antiochus, drowned in the Orontes, in flying from 
battle. Seleucus VI., burned in Cilicia, for extortion. 
Philip died in exile, but is supposed to have been killed by 
Tigranes. Eusebes, expelled and died in exile. Demetrius 
Eucerus, slain in war with Tigranes. Dyonisius, expelled 
by Tigranes ; manner of death unknown. Antiochus Asi- 
aticus, defeated by Pompey ; manner of death unkown. 



PTOLEMY AULETES, B. C. 65. 

Alexander II. having been banished from Egypt, on 
account of his cruelties, had retired to Tyre, where he soon 
after died. He left no heirs, and indeed, we might almost 
say that there lived not at this time a legitimate offspring 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 277 

of the Ptolemys. Alexander, at his death, bequeathed his 
kingdom and all his property to the Roman Senate. 

The Egyptians were not disposed to acknowledge so readily 
a foreign master. They therefore raised to the throne 
Auletes, and made one of his brothers governor of Cyprus. 
Auletes was anxious to defeat the will of Alexander, and to 
be acknowledged king of Egypt by the Romans. To accom- 
plish this, he bribed Julius Caesar and the Roman Senate, 
with the promise of large sums of money. To raise this 
money, he levied exhorbitant taxes upon the people, which 
caused a rebellion, and in 58 B. C, he was compelled to fly 
the land. So secretly did he conceal his route, that the 
Egyptians either believed or pretended to believe, that he 
had perished. They therefore raised to the throne his eldest 
daughter, Berenice. But Auletes was not dead ; he had 
made his way to Rhodes, where he met Cato, a distinguished 
Romans, who advised him to return to Egypt, and to take 
care of his kingdom. Cato urged him not to think of buy- 
ing the friendship of Rome, " for,'' said he, " if you give 
them ever so much, their greediness will demand more, and 
take all you have." Auletes was convinced, and w^as dis- 
posed to return, but the friends he had with him, being in 
the service of Pompey, had interested motives in persuading 
him to proceed to Rome, and he yielded to their persuasion. 
At Rome, by the aid of Pompey, he presented to the Senate 
his complaints against his subjects, and demanded to be 
restored to his kingdom and government. The Egyptians, 
learning that the exiled king was at Rome, also sent an 
embassy of one hundred men, the most respectable princes 
and nobles, to plead their cause before the Roman Senate. 
Most of these men w^ere secretly destroyed, either by poison 
or the dagger, at the instigation of Auletes. After three 
years' maneuvering, Rome finally restored Auletes to the 



278 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

tlirone of Egypt. Meanwhile let us observe a few things in 
regard to 

BERENICE, B. C. 58 : 

This princess ascended the throne at the time of her father's 
banishment, and reigned three years. The Egyptians feared 
the growing power of Kome, and desired to strengthen the 
throne of their female sovereign. Antiochus Asiaticus of 
Syria, was of Egyptian extraction, his mother Selene being 
the daughter of Physcon. To Antiochus the Egyptians sent 
embassadors, offering him the queen in marriage, and the 
throne of Egypt, as her dower. But the embassadors found, 
on their arrival, that Antiochus was dead. He, however, 
had left a brother, Seleucus, as his successor. To him they 
made the same offer, and he accepted. He came to Egypt, 
and became the husband of Berenice, but not the king of 
Egypt. He was a man of very sordid, groveling spirit, so 
devoted to obtaining money by mean artifices, that he 
became an object of contempt to all. The queen abhorred 
him, and caused him to be strangled. Subsequently Ber- 
enice became the wife of Archelaus, high priest of Cumae, 
in Pontus. 

The Eomans established Auletes in power by force of 
arms, which the Egyptians resisted, and in that resistance 
Archelaus was slain. Auletes would have put all the Egyp- 
tians to the sword, had he not been subdued by Antony. 
Egypt was soon reduced and compelled to receive an unin- 
vited master, B. C. 65. 

Almost the first act of Auletes, after his restoration, was 
to put to death his daughter, Berenice, for having worn 
the crown during his absence. He also caused the death, 
by poison and assassination, of nearly all the chief men of 
Alexandria who had been opposed to his restoration. His 
only other act worthy of note was the manner of paying 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 279 

his debts. One Kabiims, a Eoman, had lent Auletes 
monev, in the time of his troubles. Part of this money 
had been used in bribing the Eoman officers and senate to 
reestablish him on the throne of Egypt. Auletes being 
now in prosperity, Kabinus came to Egypt to obtain pay- 
ment of this debt. Auletes told him he had no means of 
paying except to appoint him to take charge of the 
treasury, out of the receipts of which he might, from time 
to time, pay himself. The creditor, having no other means 
of securing the debt, accepted the offer ; but as soon as he 
entered upon its duties, Auletes raised a pretext to accuse 
him of fraud, and the unfortunate creditor with difficulty 
escaped with his life, losing the entire debt. When 
Rabinus arrived at Rome, he met with new trouble, for 
he was there prosecuted for lending money to Auletes with 
which to commit the crime of bribery. 

Ptolemy Auletes continued to reign in peace four years 
after his restoration, and the payment of his debts, and 
the persecution of his creditors. He died, and was suc- 
ceeded by the famous 

CLEOPATRA, B. C. 51. 

When Ptolemy Alexander ascended the throne of Egypt, 
he was sustained there only by the favor of the Roman 
senate. Alienated by domestic feuds from his own kindred, 
he bequeathed his throne and kingdom to the Romans, his 
benefactors. By many he was deemed incapable of dis- 
posing by will of that which could scarcely be called his 
own. Auletes succeeded Alexander, and purchased back 
his kingdom from the Romans, by bribing Julius Caesar 
and Pompey, then the two great men of the world ; he 
also promised great sums to the senate, which were, how- 
ever, never paid. These large expenditures of money 
exhausted the treasures of Egypt, and gave great offense 



280 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

to the people. Tliej at last rebelled, and Auletus was 
driven into exile. The statesmen and counselors of Egypt 
rallied around Berenice, a young and beautiful princess, 
the eldest daughter of Auletes. Berenice assumed the 
crown and administered with regal authority for a short 
time, during her father's banishment ; but ultimately, 
Auletes was restored to his throne and kingdom, and for 
the filial act of preserving the throne for him, Auletes 
caused his daughter to be beheaded ; so lost had the 
Ptolemys become to all ties of affection, to every sense of 
honor and justice. 

Auletes left four other children, two sons, both of whom 
were called Ptolemy — no other name having been trans- 
mitted to us by historians — and two daughters, Arsinoe 
and Cleopatra; the oldest of these was the far-famed 
queen, whose fortunes were coujiled with those of Julius 
Caesar and Marc Antony. 

Cleopatra was born 68 years before the birth of Christ, 
and was ten years old when her elder sister, Berenice, was 
executed, leaving herself the oldest child, and heir apparent 
to the throne. Six years after this act of barbarism, 
Auletes was called before the judge of the quick and dead 
to meet in the other land the spirit of his murdered child. 
Auletes left a strange and unreasonable will ; a legacy of 
trouble to his children, by which every one of them came 
to a violent death. By that will Cleopatra and Ptolemy, 
her eldest brother, were jointly to possess the throne and 
kingdom of Egypt, on the express condition that they 
should marry each other. Such incestuous marriages, 
though abhorred by us, and contrary to nature, were not 
uncommon in those days ; but in this case it was an 
extremely unfortunate arrangement. These children enter- 
tained a great aversion to each other, which gradually 
ripened into the most deadly hatred. There were no points 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 281 

of affinity between tliem : she a maiden of nearly seven- 
teen years, of beautiful form, possessing a high order of 
intellect and profound education — he a child of eleven 
years, mulish, stupid and slow of apprehension, and with a 
mind which future years failed to improve. To the charms 
of an exceedingly beautiful person, Cleopatra had added 
the much more valuable charm of a highly cultivated mind, 
and, for aught that appears at that time, a pure heart. 
She had studied philosophy under the best masters. She 
was well versed in the poetry and legends of the Greek 
authors. She understood chemistry and the sciences gen- 
erally. She not only read, but wrote poetry. She was 
master of a great number of languages, and conversed 
freely and fluently with the embassadors from India, Persia, 
Eome, Syria, Macedon, and from the wilds of Arabia, in 
their own native tongues. She was well skilled in the 
arts and intrigues of diplomacy. At first glance we sup- 
pose that in her were united all the virtues of her prede- 
cessors — the first three Ptolemys, Soter and Philadelphus, 
who had gathered the great library and translated the 
Bible into Greek, and all the ardor and domestic affection 
of Evergetes and his wife, Berenice, whose golden locks 
had been translated to the skies — all the suavity of man- 
ners of the first of the early Ptolemys. 

Take a second look at her history, and we will almost 
conclude that all the vices of the Ptolemys had been dis- 
tilled into this, their last representative. Cleopatra was 
of a robust, vigorous constitution, ardent and impulsive. 
She was a specimen of what we sometimes, though rarely 
see, a combination of the highest order of intellectual 
development and mental culture, with the most complete 
development of the animal propensities, and a generous, 
good nature, which, under more favorable circumstances, 
might have been coupled with moral qualities, so as to have 
24 



282 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

produced a triple compound of the most perfect human 
being: animal, intellectual, moral, each aiding, control- 
ing and perfecting the other. 

In the school in which Cleopatra was born, and influenced 
by the pressure of surrounding circumstances during her 
whole life, the moral and the virtuous elements of her nature 
could scarce fail to sustain a severe injury, and thus mar 
the beauty of the whole structure of the most accomplished 
and conspicuous personage that ever presided over the 
plains of the Nile. Cleopatra detested the condition of her 
father's will, yet she virtuously acceded to the requirements 
of the State. 

The empty form and ceremony of marriage was cele- 
brated between Cleopatra, the wise and beautiful, and the 
child of eleven years. But the parties never came together 
practically. They were never really married — never co- 
habited together. It would have been a sin against Nature 
and Nature's God, that such a couple should live in wed- 
lock, not only on account of the incest, but from the entire 
incompatibility of their natures. Married life, when not 
affection but interest governs, and force of circumstances 
compel their union, is but honorable, legalized adultery, 
nor can licentiousness be checked, until teachers and rulers 
take a more philosophical view of the nature and innocence 
of those relations. Cleopatra was disposed to be con- 
tented with her divided share of regal authority ; but her 
brother was as yet represented by ministers and states- 
men., himself being but a child, and these statesmen labored 
to increase the hatred already existing between the royal 
couple. They could not rule Cleopatra, for she had a mind 
and a judgment of her own ; they could not defraud the 
people, for she was faithful ; they could not deceive her, 
for she was a diplomatist, and vastly their superior. What 
could they do? Just what little, narrow-minded souls 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 283 

always do to those ^vllo are of superior intelligence, hate 
and abuse the excellence which they did not themselves 
possess, and which, in others, was a standing reproach to 
their stupidity and depravity. They roused the prejudices 
of the people against a female sovereign, and persuaded 
the boy king to deny his sister any share in the adminis- 
tration, thereby hoping to have everything their own way. 
But Cleopatra was not thus easily to be disposed of by their 
stupid maneuvring. She refused to resign her claim to 
the throne to which she had a title. She had paid the 
unreasonable condition imposed upon her by an unwise 
father, and she would not surrender the reward. In a pub- 
lic assembly an attempt to dethrone her was made. With 
a loud voice she declared, " I am the princess of Egypt, the 
daughter of the Ptolemy s. I am the eldest survivor of a 
lono' and illustrious line, whose administration has blessed 
this land. By the will of my father, I am entitled to half 
of the throne. But for that will I should have right to 
the whole. If that will be broken, I am sole queen. I 
am the sovereign of Egypt. I will not surrender its crown.'^ 
Such talent, such boldness, such a heroic appeal would, in 
almost any other land, have roused a chivalry that would 
have defended her claim, and hurled her oppressors in the 
dust; but the ministers, with much effort, quieted the 
people, and banished Cleopatra. They shall see her again. 
Let us now pause to consider the social, moral and reli- 
gious aspect of Egypt at the time of the events above 
described. I have elsewhere said there were many points 
of similarity between the Egyptian and the Grecian. 
There were also some striking points of dissimilarity. 
Egyptian paganism partook of the sublime — the Grecian 
of the beautiful. Egyptian gods represented the hidden 
powers and mysteries of Nature. Clothed in obscurity, 
they were embodiments of the secret influence of the sun 



284 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

in governing the lesser bodies in some unaccountable man- 
ner, dispensing life and warmth to all things, giving the 
earth capacity to bring forth vegetable and sustain animal 
life. The Grecian Deities represented the more manifest, 
the beautiful and less secret works of Nature ; the winds, 
the groves, the waterfalls, the waves of the sea — revealing 
themselves to tlie material sense — were the images of their 
poetic fancy ; and there was more of the gentle, soothing 
contemplation — less of the dark profound. It must be 
admitted, however, that sometimes their theology rose to 
the sublime, as in the thunderings of Jupiter, the boister- 
ous tread of Mars, or the surges of Neptune ; yet even in 
these instances it was the manifest, not the hidden, which 
they interwove w^ith the fictions of the Gods. While Egypt 
seemed to hold converse with the invisible, the unsearch- 
able, yet powerful workshop of the universe, the Greek was 
like the cloud when the saffron tints of morn hang its 
tapestry around the borders, intimating joyous hope and 
bright tokens of future pleasure, as the evening cloud, 
illuminated with the golden hue of the declining sun, gor- 
geous, tasteful in every form, and hue, and tinge. Egypt 
was like the thunder pillar, rising majestically, and utter- 
ing its deep voice, rolling portentously high in the heavens, 
and intimating that within its dark folds, unseen by mor- 
tals, lie the elements in labor which ever and anon give 
but a mementos flash of light, half revealing its profound 
capacities. Hence the temples of Egypt, like the Gods 
that dwelt within them, were grand and imposing, covering 
acres, and reaching far into the sky — built for endurance, 
but not graceful in proportion. Grecian temples were not 
of great magnitude, which would be of little use amid 
their mountains, but they vrere graceful in form, well pro- 
portioned, and adapted to please the eye, rather than strike 
with aw^e. They were intended to be the embodiment of 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 285 

their own favorite motto, that "a thing of beauty is a joy 
forever." The pagan mysteries also represented the human 
passions. The Egyptians those of a mother who makes no 
display, whose aflection is lodged deep in her bosom ; while 
the Grecians sung of the passions, pride, lust and revenge, 
which openly manifest themselves. 

Cast of mind and state of society favored these pecu- 
liarities. The Egyptians were austere, grave, deep think- 
ers, abounding in emblems of death and vast eternity; 
the Grecians were more voluptuous, and their emblems 
were more of present, pleasure than of future retribution. 
They thought more of Bacchus and the Muses than of 
Pluto and Hades. The Egyptians were, in some measure, 
the prototype of our stern Puritan Fathers, two hundred 
years ago, while the Greeks resembled the graceful gayety 
of the fashionable Christians of the present day. This 
character of the Greeks, however, applies chiefly to the 
times after the fall of the Persian empire. During the 
entire reign of the Lagidse, the Grecian type had been 
impressed upon the Egyptian mold ; the two had become 
blended, and the gracefulness had, in no small degree, sup- 
planted the austerity of the Egyptian, and under Cleo- 
patra's future influence, the finishing touches of voluptuous 
refinement were applied to the sterner cast of earlier 
times. But I am anticipating. We will follow our hero- 
ine. The provinces of Phoenicia and Palestine had once 
been subject to Egypt. To them Cleopatra, in her ban- 
ishment, retired. She appealed to their inhabitants to 
defend her rights. To this appeal they readily responded. 
The cities of Phoenicia, the hills of Palestine, poured forth 
their hardy soldiery, to rally round the standard of tlie 
queen, who now contemplated returning to Egypt, and 
with the sword defending her crown. But she was spared 



28G THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

the necessity of such a measure. Another party appears in 
the field. 

Kome had long been meddling with the affairs of the 
East, and most of the provinces of Alexander's empire had 
submitted to her sway. The Eoman Senate thought it 
their duty to interfere in the affairs of Egypt, and settle the 
succession to the crown. Eor this purpose Julius Caesar, 
with a small army, visited Alexandria, to summons the 
claimants before him and decide their fate. The absent queen 
was to be heard by a representative. This was in the year 
48 B. C. Cleopatra knew too well the intrigues of courts, 
and the probable influence of a king at home, over that of a 
helpless queen abroad. She foresaw the probability that 
any counselor she might send, if not bribed to betray her 
cause, would but half defend her rights. With a courage 
and heroism rarely displayed by the sterner sex, she deter- 
mined to be her own advocate. While the great sea was 
tossed by tempests — its surges so boisterous that no vessel 
dare leave the harbor, she, in an open boat, and with but 
one confidential friend, commits herself to the care of Nep- 
tune, pushes her way across the deep, and enters the outer 
harbor of Alexandria. 

Julius Caesar was then in Alexandria. The next day was 
set to hear the case. There was no time to be lost. The 
faithful attendant had prepared cloths of the richest kind. 
He spread them out, and the heroic Cleopatra allowed her- 
self to be rolled in them, and bound up in the form of a 
bale of goods. Borne upon the shoulder of her friend, 
she was thus carried through the streets of Alexandria. 
When hailed by the sentinel, the bearer replied that he 
bore a present to Caesar. He was permitted to pass. 
To the apartment of Caesar he proceeded, and deposited 
his present. Caesar unrolled the rich cloths, when, to his 



I 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 287 

surprise, forth sprang from the bundle, a beautiful, youthful 
female. 

Cleopatra related her adventures, and plead her cause 
before her judge. Caesar was now about fifty years of age, 
a stern old Roman ; but his heart was touched with sym- 
pathy for a defenseless queen, and a still warmer affection 
than that of pity moved the old hero. Cleopatra passed that 
night in the house of Caesar. In winning his heart, she had 
abeady won her claim to her crown. There is, however, no 
evidence that there was at that time any criminal intercourse 
between them. The day dawned, a day that was to decide 
the title to the crow^i of Egypt. Ptolemy and his courtiers 
were in high hope, as they repaired to the hall of audience. 
But what was their surprise when they learned that the 
banished sister was the» in the apartment of Ctesar ? Indig- 
nation, rage and fury burst forth. But what could they do ? 
The stern Roman had an army to sustain him. He declared 
that Cleopatra should be restored to her joint partnership in 
the throne. To this Ptolemy affected to agree, but a few 
days after his counselors and the officers of his army refused 
to abide by the decision. A tumult and riot was the result. 
The Roman soldiers put down the Egyptian faction. Ptolemy 
was slain, and the rebellion quelled. A part of the great 
library in the Bruchion was accidentally burned. The death 
of Ptolemy gave Cleopatra not half but the whole throne. 
From that time Caesar and Cleopatra lived as husband and 
wife. Together they ascended the Nile, halting along its 
banks, and holding sumptuous festivals under gorgeous 
pavilions of silk. After having surveyed the most import- 
ant coast of the country, they returned to Alexandria, still 
continuing to dwell together. Caesar was at length called 
home to Rome. After some years Cleopatra followed her 
lover to the seven-hilled city. In Rome she again occupied 
the apartment and the bed of Csesar, to the exclusion of his 



288 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Koman wife. Thus stood matters when Julius Caesar was 
assassinated in the Senate Chamber. Cleopatra immediately 
returned to Egypt, a widow indeed, and there for a number of 
years she ruled with moderation, wisdom and ability. Her 
kingdom was prosperous, and her people happy. During 
this period no blemish stained her character. 

During these years great events were transpiring in the 
Eoman empire. Macedon, Thrace and Syria had already 
been added to their possessions. But the Parthians, a power- 
ful nation in the East, were the enemies of Rome, and con- 
tinually harrassed the eastern portions of Syria. Marc 
Antony, the avenger of Csesar's death, the enemy of Brutus 
and Cassius, was commissioned to march to the East, to 
regulate affairs in Macedon and Asia Minor, and then pro- 
ceed to check the Parthians. Antony was a great warrior, 
a bold unpolished man, and eminently luxurious and licen- 
tious. His journey was marked with every excess of de- 
bauchery. Jenkens thus describes it : 

*' His progress was one continued triumph ; not such as 
best became a conqueror, but dishonored by the most shame- 
ful debauchery and excess. Kings bent before him, in hum- 
ble obeisance, and laid their hoarded treasures at his feet. 
Queens rejoicing in wealth and beauty, sought his presence 
eagerly, and yielded every favor that he could ask. Never 
was the gross sensualism of his character more glaringly 
exhibited. The wealth of Croesus filled his coffers ; but it 
was needed to furnish new pleasures for his jaded appetite. 

Sycophants and flatterers shared his gold, and partook 
with him in every vice and folly. Dancers and buffoons 
were his companions and attendants — the creatures of his 
bounty, and the ministers to his passions. Eumors of the 
sports and revelry, the riot and feasting, in which he de- 
lighted, went before him. Cities sent forth their entire 
population to greet his coming. His followers called him 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 289 

Bacchus — a name that pleased him — and men and boys, 
disguised as Pans and Satyrs, and women, dressed as Bac- 
chanals, in loose Asiatic robes, with vine wreaths about their 
heads, and fawn skins on their shoulders, ran before him, 
swinging their thyrsi, crowned with accanthus leaves and 
the foliage and berries of the ivy, beating their drums and 
shoutino', " lo Bacche ! lo Bacche !'' 



•&' 



This was Antony, brave but effeminate — talented and 
eloquent, but coarse by nature — generous in disposition, 
but often cruel and unforgiving — sometimes abandoned, as 
it seems, to the lowest of vices, and then breaking loose 
from his degradation, and exhibiting his character glowing 
with its old light. This was the Antony who, history tells 
us, was ruined by the arts of Cleopatra. 

Antony halted at Tarsus, in Cilicia. Home had long 
coveted Egypt, and Antony now aspired to the honor of 
adding it to her provinces. He therefore sought a pretext 
to quarrel with Cleopatra. A governor from Phoenicia, 
without orders from his queen, had given shelter to some ofj 
the party by whom Cesar was slain. Antony seized upon 
this fact, and sent positive orders for Cleopatra to appear 
before him at Tarsus. Was it her fault that she yielded to 
his demand ? — she, the queen of a small kingdom, and he 
clothed with all the power of invincible Kome. What 
could she do other than to obey — yet, with womanly mod- 
esty, she delayed, deferred and postponed as long as possible. 
She at length set out to comply with the demands of Marc 
Antony. To do justice to her character we must take into 
view her circumstances — a queen without alliances, without 
foreign aid,''and in danger of being seized by that all- 
absorbing iioman power. For her there was but one alter- 
native — she must either win Marc Antony or lose her 
kingdom, and perhaps her life. Let us not judge too harshly 
25 



290 THE KINGDOM OF BKASS. 

of her. Force, not clioice, directed tlie journey, but expe- 
diency decided the style and manner of it. She went with 
all the attending allurements which might gain the heart, 
and take captive her captor. One author thus describes 
her journey : 

*' It was a glorious pageant. The richest carvings 
adorned her barge, which fairly blazed with gold and 
splendor. Its sails of brightest purple swelled gracefully 
with the soft south winds that strained its silken cordage. 
Its oars, both blade and handle 1^')ped and bound with sil- 
ver, moved in harmony with the voluptuous music of the 
flute, the pipe, and the cithern. Above it floated the mys- 
tic ensign of tlie Egyptian monarchs, and from the burning 
censers on its prow, clouds of odorous perfume were wafted 
to the shore. Upon its deck was raised a lofty canopy of 
cloth of gold, beneath which, on a cushioned couch, with 
ivory and tortoise shell inlaid, reclined the dark-eyed queen 
of Egypt. She was robed like Venus, in a purple mantle, 
glittering with diamonds, and its border ornamented with 
threads of gold and silver intertwined. Eoses and myrtles 
were wreathed about her brows, her ears were pierced with 
rings of pearl, a necklace of precious stones encircled 
her swan-like throat, the golden cestus clasped her waist, 
and golden sandals incased her tiny feet. Beautiful boys, 
disguised as Cupids, stood beside her and fanned her with 
their wings. Damsels, among the fairest at her court, 
whose houried beauty could not be surpassed, were habited 
as Nereides and Graces, in loose, transparent robes, and 
waited to do her bidding, or managed the helm and sails 
with great dexterity and skill. 

" The shore was lined with people, who watched the barge 
laden with so much beauty, with straining eyes. As it 
moved along, the cry was raised that Venus had come to 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 291 

least with Bacchus. From mouth to mouth it passed until 
It reached the market-place in Tarsus. All hastened forth 
to witness her approach— all save Antony, who, deserted 
hj suitors and attendants, remained alone on the tribunal 
where he was seated. Immediately upon her landing, he 
sent an officer to her, with his greetino-, coupled wdth the 
request that she woukl come and sup with him. ' Go, tell 
your master/ was her reply, ' that it is more fitting he 
should come and sup with me.' " 

This assumption of social superiority put an end at once 
to all the dignity which Antony purposed to assume. He 
accepted the invitation of Cleopatra, and thus, at the very 
outset, exhibited a deference toward her, by which she did 
not fail to profit. For luxurious magnificence, and costly 
and profuse extravagance, the entertainment provided by 
Cleopatra had never yet been equalled. Her tents and 
pavilions, hung with cloth of gold, or silken tapestry from 
the looms of Tyre and Sidon, were pitched beside the 
sparkling waters of the Cydnus, in a noble grove of spread- 
ing plane trees and stately laurels. Lamps of bronze and 
gold, suspended by gilt chains, or supported by lofty can- 
delabra, arranged in squares and circles, and raised or 
depressed at pleasure, shed their perfumed light around. 
Blazing censers, filled with choicest spices, loaded the air 
with fragrance. There were long rows of marble tables 
and silver tripods, covered with tureens and urns, and vases 
of gold and silver, fashioned with elegance and taste. Large 
silver vessels or chargers, splendidly embossed, contained 
the juicy meats, the fish, the hares, and the pheasants. 
The bread and fruited cake were brought in silver baskets. 
Bronze dishes, with ornaments inlaid, were filled with eo-^s 
and rocs of fishes, with oysters from the Hellespont, with 
fresh and pickled olives, with radishes, dried dates and 



292 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

raisins ; mulberries, newly gathered ; almonds and confec- 
tions. Banqueting cups, of most exquisite workmanship, 
were wreathed with garlands, and poured brimming full of 
-the rich juice of Clilos, or the produce of the Egyptian soil, 
not the mild wines of Thebais aul Coptus, but the light, 
fragrant Narcoticum, and the oily and aromatic Lsento- 
ticum. 

Upon the ornamented seats and couches reclined the 
guests, with chaplets of violets and roses, myrtle and ivy 
bound about their temples. Their ears were charmed with 
soft strains of music, and buffoons amused them with their 
droll tricks and pleasantries. Attending servants cooled 
them with fans of peacock feathers, while they listened to 
the mythological love stories which the pantomimists related,' 
or watched the dancing girls, who, clad in the gossamer 
robes of Coa with golden bangles upon their feet, and eme- 
rald bracelets upon their arms and shoulders, moved with 
airy steps before them. 

High above them all was Cleopatra, with Antony reclin- 
ing near her. Upon her head the diadem of Egypt, with 
the asp — the emblem of divinity — on it, flashed with 
rarest gems. Her tunic glittered with all the colors of the 
East, and was overspread with rich embroidery. A Baby- 
lonian shawl of finest tissue was thrown around her should- 
ers, and at her side gleamed a Persian dagger, whose hilt 
was pearls and diamonds. Cushions of crimson damask 
rose invitingly about her swelling limbs. Her full lips 
parted but to utter honeyed words. The glow of satis- 
faction was on her cheek, and in her eye the light of 
triumph. '^ 

Such was the first meeting of Marc Anthony and Cleo- 
patra. She came, she saw, she conquered. Antony was 
completely captivated with the charms of the Egyptian 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 293 

queen, and she, in turn, realized that she held her king- 
dom only as she held the Koman in the net of her bewitch- 
ing charms. 

Day after day was spent in fond dalliance. They sailed 
along the Phoenician coast to Tyre ; it was then the inten- 
tion of Antony to have left her and proceeded against the 
Parthians. But so irresistible was her attractive influence 
that Cleopatra drew him into Egypt. Here time rolled on, 
and voluptuousness drowned all recollection of his duty to 
Eome or resistance to the Parthians. 

Meantime, that enemy was gaining victory after victory 
on the plains of Mesopotamia. Affairs at Eome now de- 
mand a passing notice. Marc Antony was now the most 
distinguished Eoman commander, and aspired to impe- 
rial power. All this time, while he was lost in fond dal- 
liance with Egypt's queen, he had a wife, Eulvia, in Eome, 
who, with her friends, was endeavoring to raise him to the 
imperial dignity. She was faithful to her lord, who was 
unfaithful to himself. 

Octavius, another distinguished Eoman, had become the 
rival of Antony, and, during his absence, had taken rapid 
strides toward absolute power. Fulvia and her friends de- 
fended the cause of Antony, and had raised an army to 
resist Octavius, but were defeated, and compelled to flee 
from Italy. She proceeded toward Phoenicia to meet An- 
tony, but died at Sicyon. Antony left Egypt and proceeded 
to Phoenicia. Here he received letters from Fulvia, which 
induced him to leave Syria to its fate and turn westward. 
After the death of Fulvia, Antony proceeded to Eome. 
The two political parties, of which he and Octavius were 
the leaders, were, for a short time, reconciled by the mar- 
riage of Antony with Octavia, the sister of Octavius. The 
marriage was based upon political considerations alone, 
and could, of course, produce no great domestic felicity. 



294 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

Octavia was indeed mild, gentle and winning, and she labored 
to refine the rough nature of Antony. Some years passed 
along with comparative quiet, hut Antony could not entirely 
efface from his heart the impressions of the queen who ruled 
on the hanks of the Nile. 

The provinces of Eome were committed to the care of the 
different triumvirs, and to Antony fell the region lying east 
of the Ionian sea. The Parthian war made it necessary 
that he should revisit the scenes of his former pleasure ; he 
therefore repaired to Cilicia with a large army. Cleopatra 
had remained for some years in Egypt. She was now the 
mother of three children — Csesaron, the son of Julius 
Caesar, and Alexander and Cleopatra, twin children of 
Marc Antony. She had been left in Egypt during the 
late changes in Eome. Antony, now again in the East, 
revived his attachment for Egypt's queen. 

He requested her to meet him in Phoenicia, with which 
request she cordially complied, not without some chiding 
for his having deserted her and married Octavia. 

Scenes of luxury and debauchery were again revived. 
To pacify her for his past neglect he gave her several 
territories that had fallen to Rome, among which were 
Phoenicia, Lower Syria, Cilicia, Cyprus and part of Pal- 
estine. At length Cleopatra returned to Egypt, and 
Antony proceeded against the Parthians ; but the delay 
had given the enemy powerful advantages over him, and 
he returned to Phoenicia with the mere shattered remnants 
of a well disciplined army. They were only saved from 
entire destruction by the timely aid of Cleopatra, who met 
them at Sidon with supplies of food and clothing. From 
this time Cleopatra seemed to have the entire control of 
Antony. He appears to have lost all independence, energy 
and promptness of character. His Roman wife, Octavia, 
started to meet him in his distresses, and proceeded as far 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 295 

as Athens, when, through the influence of Cleopatra, An- 
tony sent her back with cruel and bitter reproaches. 
Antony spent the winter in Alexandria. In the spring 
he again proceeded to the East, subdued the Armenians, 
captured their king and dragged him a prisoner into 
Egypt. 

After another season of riot, he once more marched against 
the Parthians. Cleopatra accompanied him, determined not 
again to lose sight of him. But news from Eome changed 
his course, and turning westward, he proceeded as far aa 
Ephesus. 

QUARREL BETWEEN AUGUSTUS C^SAR AND MARC ANTONY. 

To the history of Eome properly belong these Eoman 
quarrels. It is only the intention to introduce here so 
much of those matters as particularly explains the history 
and fate of Egypt. 

Marc Antony, who wept and made political speeches over 
the dead body of Julius Caesar, had been victorious in arms 
against the Eastern nations, had greatly enlarged the 
Eoman Empire by subduing the rebellion of Syria, Judea 
and other provinces, and had done the State good service. 
For these reasons he deserved their highest esteem. But 
Eome had another favorite son. This was Octavius, subse- 
quently called Augustus Csesar. Each aspired to be the 
first man of Eome. Each had his partisans ; but the great 
services of Antony stood a rebuke to the less active Augus- 
tus. This rivalship had led to an enmity which both 
professed to have extinguished by the marriage of Antony 
with Octavia, the sister of Augustus. This marriage was 
consummated, expressly and without disguise, for political 
purposes — was not sought or especially desired by Antony, 
but was concocted by the professed political friends of both, 



296 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

who tlius hoped to unite their interests, while they had 
their own private ends to gain. 

But Antony was already practically wedded to Cleopatra, 
the Egyptian, and that queen ever claimed him as her 
hushand. By the Eoman law and religion, the marriage 
of two wives at th(^ same time was prohibited, while that 
of Egypt did not condemn such marriages. Which then 
was the greater sinner, the Egyptian first wife, or the 
Eoman second ? Yet the Komans attach all the criminality 
of subsequent events to the Egyptian queen, and all the 
suffering innocence to the Roman wife. 

It can not be doubted that all parties acted with impro- 
priety and unrighteousness. Let it be remembered, that 
Rome was aspiring to grasp the crown of Egypt, and sought 
an apology for gratifying that desire. Roman intrigue 
invented circumstances, and perverted facts, to misrepresent 
the character and intentions of Cleopatra, and justify them- 
selves ; and Roman historians, ever partial to their own coun- 
try, have recorded the misrepresentations and perpetuated 
the slander, while Egypt, crushed beneath the iron heel of 
Roman despotism, was not permitted to be heard in defense 
of her latest queen and her prostrate throne. Antony 
still thought more of his Cleopatra than of his Octavia. 
He had spent some time in idleness in Rome with the 
latter; he had traversed mountains and deserts, on 
fatiguing campaigns, with the former; by each he was the 
father of two children. Why should he not still continue 
his fond regard and constant affection for her, the older 
of the two wives, the one chosen from affection, not from 
policy, the companion of his toils as well as of his leisure. 
If Cleopatra and Antony spent hours in luxury and 
debauchery, they also accompanied each other in the 
fatigues, marches and storms of war ; nor did the queen 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 297 

of Egypt shrink from participation in his hardships, toils 
and dangers. How unjust are the insinuations of the 
Roman writers, that she was inconstant and treacherous to 
him, and desired to do him harm. With all the prejudice 
of her Roman hiographers, tliey have not failed to record 
in her favor facts, whicli, if not sufficient to acquit her of 
all wrong, are ahundantly ample to diminish her guilt and 
extenuate her faults, while they fully convict her accusers 
of gross misrepresentation. But whatever might be the 
right or the wrong, by any code of morals, the neglect of 
Octavia, and the tender regard for Cleopatra, and the 
stimulus of unbounded ambition, roused anew the hatred 
of Augustus and his partisans against the absent Antony. 
Many Romans, however, adhered to the latter ; many brave 
men left their homes in the imperial city to join his stand- 
ard, when these two great commanders prepared for, and 
finally engaged in war against each other. 

Cleopatra was still the true wife and faithful friend of 
Anthony. She joined him with all her Egyptian forces, 
and notwithstanding Roman misrepresentation, manifested 
a commendable sincerity in her attachment. 

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR BETWEEN THE TWO GREAT 
ROMANS. 

Antony and Cleopatra had been spending some time at 
Ephesus, but hearing of the movements of Augustus 
against him at Rome, he prepared for defense. 

However innocent Octavia might have been, Antony 
believed that she was the occasion of these movements. 
He therefore divorced her and declared war against Augus- 
tus. He then removed to Samos, where his armies were 
concentrated. 

Rollin, upon the authority of Pliny, the Roman histo- 
rian, relates the following as having occurred at this place : 



298 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

** Whatever passion Cleopatra professed for Antony, as 
lie perfectly knew her character for dissimulation, and that 
she was capable of the blackest crimes, he apprehended, I 
know not upon what foundation, that she might have thought 
of poisoning him, for which reason he never touched any 
dish at their banquet till it had been tasted. It was 
impossible that the queen should not perceive so manifest a 
distrust. She employed a very extraordinary method to 
make him sensible how ill-founded his fears were ; and if 
she had so had an intention how ineffectual all the precau- 
tion would be. She caused the extremities of the flowers 
to be poisoned, of which the wreaths worn by Antony 
and herself at table, according to the customs of the 
ancients, were composed. When their heads began to grow 
warm with wine, in the hight of their gayety, Cleopatra 
proposed to Antony to drink off those flowers. He made 
no difficulty, and after having plucked off the end of his 
wreath with his fingers, and thrown them into his cup 
filled with wine, he was upon the point of drinking it, when 
the queen, taking hold of his arm, said to him, ' I am the 
poisoner against whom you take such mighty precautions, 
as if it w^ere possible for me to live without you. Judge 
now whether I wanted either the opportunity or means for 
such an action/ 

*' Having ordered a prisoner condemed to die to be brought 
thither, she made him drink that liquor, upon which he 
died immediately.'^ 

We may now ask, of what black crime had Cleopatra as 
yet been guilty, that Antony knew her character for dis- 
simulation ? Simply, that she had loved and united her 
person and fortune with that of the Eoman officer with 
whom she had a perfect right to wed, and whose kind 
regard she had ret lined by firm attachment and kindness 
in return ; while Octavia, forced upon him for mercenary 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 299 

purposes, whatever of meekness and commendable virtue 
she might have possessed, had not succeeded in retaining 
or exhibiting the same regard. 

What had Cleopatra to gain by his death? What 
advantage was it to her to follow his standard from land to 
land, and engage in distant wars ? Could she not at any- 
time, if she chose, depart — retire to her own kingdom and 
dwell in quiet ? No other explanation of her conduct can 
be given than to admit her firm, true and virtuous attach- 
ment to him whom she esteemed her rightful husband. It 
is not even pretended by her Roman accusers that, at this 
time, or any other subsequent to her first interview with 
Antony, he had any rival in her affections. Is it not much 
more probable that the fears and unjust suspicions of Antony 
were roused by the secret emissaries of Augustus, who, 
under color of friendship, were trying to alienate Antony 
and Cleopatra, the easier to conquer both, and rob the queen 
of her kingdom. The friends of Antony having departed 
from Rome to join his standard, Augustus easily induced 
the Senate to declare war — not, indeed, against Antony, 
although he was the victim intended, but against Cleopatra, 
queen of Egypt. 

What had she done? Antony was a Roman officer, com- 
missioned and sent forth by Roman authority to conquer 
and govern the eastern nations. He still held that com- 
mission. Cleopatra, by following his standard, had aided a 
Roman in doing what Rome commanded to be done. What- 
ever might have been her social misdeeds, this was the 
•extent of her political offense. If Antony had exceeded 
his authority, or was guilty of mal-administration, Rome 
should have canceled his commission, and recalled him from 
service. 

But what justification is there for making war upon his 
ally, who had no reason to suppose her acts were adverse 



300 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

to the will of Eorne. Behind all these pretexts lay the 
insatiahle thirst to add Egypt to the number of Roman pro- 
vinces, and for this purpose the character of its talented 
queen must be traduced, and she be made the victim of 
war. 

BATTLE OF ACTIUM, B. C. 31. 

War having been formally declared, Antony with his 
army left Samos, sailed along the coast, and encamped near 
Corcyra. The forces consisted of five hundred ships, two 
hundred thousand foot soldiers, and twelve thousand horse. 
In his company were five kings from Lybia, Cappadocia, 
Paphlagonia, Comegera, and Thrace. Others, who could 
not attend in person, sent their troops, from Pontus, Judea, 
Lycaonia, Galatia and Media. 

Eollin thus describes the navy of Antony : " These ships 
of war were of extraordinary size and structure, having 
several decks, one above another, with towers upon the 
head and stern, of a prodigious bight, so that those superb 
vessels upon the sea might have been taken for floating 
islands. Such great crews were necessary for completely 
manning those heavy machines, that Antony, not being 
able to find mariners enough, had been obliged to take 
husbandmen, artificers, muleteers, and all sorts of people, 
void of experience, and fitter to give trouble than do real 
service." 

"A more splendid and pompous sight could not be seen 
than this fleet when it put to sea, and had unfurled its 
sails. But nothing equalled the magnificence of Cleopatra's 
galley, all flaming with gold — its sails of purple, its flags 
and streamers floating in the wind, while trumpets and 
other instruments of war made the heavens resound with 
airs of joy and triumph." 

Augustus now sailed out and encamped at Brundusium. 
His army was far inferior in numbers to that of Antony, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 301 

but was more choice, and his navy was much better disci- 
plined. It consisted of two hundred and fifty ships, of less 
size but more agile and easily managed, than Antony's. 
He had eighty thousand footmen, and about twelve thou- 
sand horse^ But the season was far advanced, and the 
rigors of winter now set in, and hostile operations were 
deferred until the next spring. 

The vessels sought commodious harbors, and the land 
forces reposed in their winter quarters. Thus ended the 
year 32 B. C. 

Early in the ensuing spring the opposing forces were put 
in motion. But nothing decisive occurred until late in the 
season. Considering the superior force and greater expe- 
rience of the army, and the undisciplined character of the 
newly enlisted sailors, the officers in Antony's staff" advised 
him not to engage in a naval battle, but to fall back and 
fight upon land, or invade those portions of Macedon and 
Thrace that favored Augustus. They further advised that 
as Cleopatra's forces were mostly naval, and as women 
were timid in time of battle, it would be better to dismiss 
her, and let her retire to Egypt. Besides other advan- 
tages, this would be a gain of moral force. The formal 
declaration of war was against Egypt, not Antony. If 
Egypt retired, Augustus would be clearly in the wrong, 
warring against a Eoman army, under the command of a 
Koman officer, attended by a Eoman consul — while Egypt, 
separate from Antony, had committed no offense against 
Kome. 

This was wise counsel, and, had it been observed, might 
have changed the results ; but the most high God ruleth 
in the nations of the earth, and his counsel had determined 
to dispose of the last head of the Kingdom of Brass. 

Cleopatra, from the number and splendor of ships and 
men entertained no doubt of their triumph, and indulged 



S02 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

high hopes of yet being Empress of Rome, when Antony 
should have subdued Augustus, and made himself master 
of the seven-hilled city. These delusive hopes were like 
the bright rays of the setting sun bursting through the 
clouds for a moment, after a tempestuous day, then retiring 
shrouded into the darkness of the night. 

Antony could not be persuaded to separate from her who 
had followed his fortunes, and in whose smiles his soul 
seemed to have its entire existence. At this critical junc- 
ture, his decision was impolitic, but impulse and passion, 
not judgment, ruled the Roman. So the adverse forces 
prepared for action on the sea. 

Near the head of the Ambracian Gulf stands a promon- 
tory at whose base was then the city of Actium. On oppo- 
site sides of this strait stood the two armies, arranged in 
order of battle, to be spectators of a conflict which, as they 
supposed, was to decide the fate of two great men. But, as 
God designed, and history proves, to decide the fate of two 
great kingdoms. 

On the second of September, in the early part of the 
day, the fleets in the mouth of the Gulf engaged in action, 
and so continued until the darkness of night suspended 
their operations. For a time victory seemed doubtful to 
which side to lean. Antony's superior navy, although his 
inexperienced sailors managed badly, appeared to be the 
more successful. Cleopatra, seeing the unskillfulness of 
Antony's ships, and the clashing and terror of his arms, 
althouoh not in the least dano;er herself, was overwhelmed 
with confusion and alarm. She therefore turned her vessel 
and fled, drawing after her the entire Egyptian fleet of 
sixty ships. 

This action of hers has been greatly censured as the 
result of treachery, but it is far more probable that confu- 
sion and womanly fear inspired the queen — that she acted 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 303 

more from momentary impulse than from, any settled de- 
sign, or any intelligent purpose. Her conduct, although 
unpardonable in a warrior, does honor to her womanly 
timidity. Had she, the learned, skillful diplomatist, been 
also the corrupt, treacherous, intriguing courtezan that her 
enemies represent her, she would not thus have yielded to 
fear. So intelligent a bold, bad woman would have been 
reckless and undismayed by blood and carnage. Her act 
was a cowardly blunder rather than a crime. Her desertion 
threw everything into confusion, and decided the fate of 
the day against Antony, who, seeing her depart, lost all 
courage himself. 

Forsaking his faithful officers who continued the conflict 
until night, he fled in an open boat, with but few attend- 
ants, overtook Cleopatra's flag-ship, and was taken on board 
by the fugitive queen. The next day, Augustus, perceiv- 
ing the victory to be complete, despatched vessels in pursuit 
of the fugitives, but being unable to overtake them, re- 
turned again to the main body. 

The land forces of Antony, being deserted by their com- 
mander, voluntarily surrendered, and were engrafted into 
the army of Augustus. 

Humbled, mortified and disheartened by his defeat, An- 
tony at first refused to see Cleopatra, but took his station 
on the forepart of the vessel, with his elbows upon his 
knees and his face buried in his hands, resigning himself 
to moody reflections. What thoughts revolved in his breast 
during those three long days ! How memory must have 
brought up the scenes of the past — the recollection of his 
first wife Fulvia — the resentment of his neglected Octavia 
— the joyous hopes when he was first sent out with the 
Eoman army — the conquest of so many nations — the hu- 
miliation of so many men of renown — and now had come 
his own downfall, occasioned, in no small measure, by his 



304 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

passions and his blind attachment to Cleopatra, whose 
weakness, not to say duplicity, had ruined him. In such 
reflections as these, three days passed. The vessel, coast- 
ing along the shores of the Peloponnesus, arrived at Taena- 
rus. Here an interview was had, and Cleopatra and Antony 
were reconciled, and again lived together. What was now 
to be done ! A last and ineffectual struggle was yet to be 
made to avert impending fate. Antony had left an army 
in Africa to guard the coast of Lybia. To Lybia, there- 
fore, he sailed, hoping, by their aid, to mend his waning 
fortunes. Btit tidings of his dishonor had preceded him, 
and Scarpus, the commander of that army, had declared 
for Augustus. 

Antony was now alone. To him the world was as bleak, 
as barren, and as uninviting as the desert sands before him. 
But for the earnest persuasion of a few friends, he would 
have committed suicide. From that time, we find him fre- 
quently contemplating that step as a last resort, rather 
than be taken to Kome and exposed to the scorn of Augus- 
tus and Octavia. From Lybia Antony proceeded to Egypt, 
where Cleopatra had gone, having sailed from Tsenarus 
directly to Alexandria. Of her arrival there, Eollin thus 
speaks : " When she approached that port, she was afraid 
if her misfortunes should be known, that she would be 
refused entrance. She therefore caused her ships to be 
crowned, as if she was returning victorious, and no sooner 
landed than she caused all the great lords of her kingdom, 
whom she suspected, to be put to death, lest they should 
excite seditions against her when they were informed of her 
defeat. Antony found her in the midst of these bloody 
executions. Is it not probable that Cleopatra was informed 
that her capital was filled with time-serving ofiicers, seduced 
by Roman bribery, and traitors to their sovereign, only 
waiting opportunity to declare against her; and that, after 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 305 

having landed, she fere ted out their treason, or that some 
overt act betrayed them, and that, as they deserved, they 
were executed according to the laws of nations ; and fur- 
ther, that the Koman sympathy for them originated in the 
fact of their secret understanding with Augustus? 

CLOSING EVENTS IN ALEXANDRIA. 

Cleopatra rightly apprehended that Augustus would pur- 
sue her to Alexandria. She had a small fleet on tlie Eed 
Sea. To prepare for the worst, she contemplated trans- 
porting her vessels in the Mediterranean to them, over the 
isthmus, about ninety miles, that she might be in readiness 
to escape to India, or elsewhere, if Alexandria should be 
taken by the enemy. How these ships were to be trans- 
ported over land, we do not know ; but it is certain that 
such things were anciently done. 

In the spring of 30 B. C, the Eomans, according to 
expectation, invaded Alexandria, and the Arabs, taking 
advantage of her misfortune, robbed and burned her ships 
on the Eed Sea, and thus caused her to abandon the pro- 
ject of transporting the others. Stripped of nearly all her 
means for military defense, the energetic queen was yet 
not driven to despair, but next resorted to negotiation, 
which she managed with admirable diplomatic dexterity. 
Eollin, upon the authority of Eoman historians, informs us 
that she thought only of gaining Caesar and of sacrificing 
to him Antony, whose misfortunes had rendered him indif- 
ferent to her. Subsequent events demonstrate that, so far 
from being indifferent, their mutual misfortunes cemented 
more fondly their mutual attachment. Eollin's next words 
are, " she loved even to madness." How then could she 
be indifferent? She counseled him to send embassadors to 
Caesar to sue for peace, and she joined her own embassadors 
with his for that purpose. In their extremities, this was 
26 



306 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

certainly wise and judicious ; but she gave her embassadors 
instructions to negotiate separately for herself. This is 
taken by Eollin and others as evidence of an intention to 
betray Antony. But it proves no such intention. How 
much easier could negotiation be conducted separately. 
She could then plead that she was a queen of royal de- 
scent ; that she was the independent sovereign of Egypt ; 
that she had only assisted Marc Antony while he was a 
Eoman officer under commission, and doing the bidding of 
the Eoman senate ; that she had done nothing against 
Eome ; that if Eome had repudiated Antony, she also had 
withdrawn from his standard, and ought to be left in the 
quiet possession of her kingdom. These most reasonable 
propositions being granted, she might claim immunity for 
Antony, not as a Eoman officer, nor a Eoman rebel, but as 
an Egyptian subject and the husband of an independent 
queen. While Antony's friends might urge in his behalf, 
that although he had acted under Eoman authority, as his 
commission was recalled and he had no command of any 
Eoman army whatever, he ought to be permitted to retire 
as a private citizen ; that the war was declared not against 
him, but against Egypt; but negotiating separately from 
Cleopatra, he would cease to be a party in the war. The 
instructions, therefore, of Cleopatra, to treat separately, 
instead of being injurious to Antony, would have been 
advantageous to both. 

But neither justice nor equity had any place in the coun- 
cil of Augustus. He refused to see the embassadors of 
Antony, but dismissed those of Cleopatra with encourage- 
ment. 

Eollin says, he gave reason to conceive great hopes in 
case she would sacrifice Antony to him. Here, then, the 
secret comes out; the wish is the father of the thought. 
It was Augustus, and not Cleopatra, that proposes to betray 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 307 

Antony: it is the temptation of the Koman which the 
Egyptian queen rejected. 

Deputies were sent a second time to Caesar with no better 
results. Time rolled along, and Cleopatra was trying 
experiments with various poisons, to ascertain by which she 
could most easily end her own life. Driven to desperation 
and contemplating suicide, what possible motive could she 
have for betraying Antony? — what possible gain could 
his destruction be to her? She well knew that the avari- 
cious Koman cared less for one fallen, wretched man, than 
for the crown of Egypt ; that not Antony, but herself and 
her treasures were the prize, and she would sooner perish 
than see herself dragged, like a beast, to Eome. 

Anticipating the worst, she caused splendid tombs to be 
erected, adjoining the temple of Isis, to which she removed 
her treasures, and where she might bury herself within the 
walls and await the result. Augustus, fearing she might 
burn these treasures and commit suicide, and thus rob him 
of the glory of carrying them and her captive to Eome, 
sent daily messengers to deceive her with false hopes. • 

Having landed his army, he marched hastily upon the 
city. Antony, although told of Cleopatra's intrigueries, 
credited them not. Gathering the few forces in the city, 
he made a vigorous sally, cut to pieces many of the enemy, 
pursued them to their very camp, and returned victorious 
into the city. He hastened to Cleopatra, and the remain- 
der of the day was spent in feasting, while the whole palace 
resounded with acclamations of joy. 

It is said by historians, that Cleopatra, who had no 
thoughts but of amusing Antony, ordered a magnificent 
feast to be prepared, at which they passed the rest of the 
day and part of the night together. What else had she 
to do but to amuse him? Did he not deserve her kind 
regards, after the glorious achievement of the day in her 



308 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

defense? The Roman historians are determined to find 
fault with her. If she smiles, she is deceiving and treach- 
erous ; if she does not smile, she has deserted, and is false. 
The next day, Antony determined to pursue his advantage. 
He assembled the army upon an eminence, and sent his 
ships and galleys against the Roman fleet. While all eyes 
were gazing upon the movement, what was Antony's aston- 
ishment to see the flag drop from Cleopatra's admiral's 
ship, and the whole fleet surrender to Csesar! This trea- 
son the Romans charge to Cleopatra, although there is no 
evidence she had any knowledge of it : it was more proba- 
bly eff'ected by Roman bribery. 

Antony next sent a challenge to Csesar to fight single- 
handed, which Csesar, with words of contempt, declined. 

Deserted by all his land forces, ridiculed by Caesar, and 
by false representations made to believe that his beloved 
queen had betrayed him, he returned to the city, full of rage 
and madness, and hastened to the palace to wreak his ven- 
geance on his betrayer. But the bird had flown. Cleopatra 
learning the fate both of the army and navy, anticipated 
the worst results, and fled to the tombs. Probably contem- 
plating the axit of suicide, she sent a messenger to Antony to 
inform him that the deed was already done. 

This intelligence converted his rage and madness into 
commiseration for her fate, and excessive grief for their 
mutual calamities. He determined not to survive her. Re- 
tiring to an apartment with but one faithful slave, he laid 
aside his armor, and commanded him to plunge a dagger 
into his breast. The slave, more courageous than his mas- 
ter, stabbed himself and fell dead at Antony's feet. En- 
couraged by his example, Antony thrust his sword into his 
own body, and fell fainting, while streams of blood, from 
both their wounds, flowed over the floor. 

A messenger arrived and announced that Cleopatra still 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 309 

lived. Antony hearing her heloved name, revived, permitted 
his wounds to be dressed, and requested to be carried to her 
presence. Borne upon the shoulders of his attendants, he 
arrived at the tombs. Cleopatra not forgetting the device 
by which, years before, she had gained access to Julius 
Csesar, was fearful that some stratagem was concealed in that 
burden, or that the attendants might be the emissaries of 
Augustus, coming to capture her. She would not unbolt the 
doors, but from her window dropped down chains and chords, 
which were passed around the body of Antony ; then, the 
queen, with two female attendants, the only persons in the 
castle, drew him up. Dangling in the air, with garments 
streaming with blood, and drawn up by female hands, he 
arrived at the window. He was taken in and laid upon a bed. 
Cleopatra stripped the clothing from her own body, and 
wiped the blood, oozing from his wounds. Few words of 
mutual counsel and kind regard passed between them, when, 
clasped in the arms of Cleopatra, Antony expired. And this 
was the scene of mutual, constant, connubial love in the day 
of calamity, love even unto death, worthy of all praise from 
the pencil and pen of the artist and the historian, which the 
Eoman writers have stigmatized as false, treacherous and 
licentious. 

Thus perished, in Egypt, by Eoman ungrateful intrigue, 
two great Komans, Pompey and Marc Antony, who had done 
more to extend the empire of Kome than the united con 
quests of all her other generals. 

Cleopatra, by permission of Augustus, caused Antony to 
be buried with all honor, and according to the most splendid 
Egyptian customs ; thus again by her action, contradicting 
the false accusation of treachery to him. By deception and 
artifice, unworthy of a hero, the servants of Augustus gained 
possession of the apartments of Cleopatra. Eollin says : 
" Caesar did not think it proper to see Cleopatra in the first 



310 THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 

days of her mourning." But if Caesar knew that she was 
false to Antony, how could he suppose her grief so great ? 
Soon, however, he visited her, under pretense of great friend- 
ship, but full of hypocrisy, designing to seize her person and 
treasures, and carry them captive to Eome. 

She was too sagacious not to detect his purpose, and with- 
hold her confidence. That interview, as described by Eoman 
writers, reveals her dreadful anguish and inconsolable grief. 
She made the most pathetic appeals to Augustus for compas- 
sion, but that hard-hearted warrior was unmoved by her 
calamities. He retired, intending soon to secure his prey. 
But she preferred death to captivity by the rival and enemy 
of her beloved husband. She deceived Augustus, it is true, 
as she had a right to do. We again quote from Eollin : 
" The better therefore to cajole him, she sent to desire that 
she might go to pay her last duty to the tomb of Antony, 
and take her leave of him. Caesar having granted her that 
permission, she went thither accordingly, to bathe that tomb 
with tears, and to assure Antony, to whom she addressed her 
discourse as if he had been present before her eyes, that she 
would soon give him a more certain proof of her affection.'' 

Had Cleopatra been that corrupt, deceitful, treacherous 
woman that the Eomans describe her, ready to betray An- 
tony, his tomb would not thus have been visited by her, 
while contemplating her own departure to the spirit land. 
The troubled, guilty conscience of a bad person, would above 
all other places upon earth, avoid the tomb of its victim. 

Keturning from these sad ceremonies, she wrote a letter 
to Augustus, requesting to be buried in the same tomb with 
her beloved Antony. Evading the watchful guards, she 
received in a basket of figs, the fatal Asp, which she applied 
to her arm, where its poisonous bite infused into her veins 
the deadly fluid, and Cleopatra, the learned, the talented, 
and the calumniated queen of Egypt, the last of the Lagidae, 



THE KINGDOM OF BRASS. 311 

after a reign of twenty-two years from her first coronation, 
and in the thirty-ninth year of her age, was wrapped in the 
sleep of death. 

A few words tell the remainder of the story. Caesar, on 
receiving the letter, hastened to the tomhs to secure his 
victim, but she had escaped his grasp. He carried off her 
treasures, made Egypt a Koman province, and thus termin- 
ated the last branch of the KINGDOM OF BRASS. 



THE END, 



TABLE OF RULERS 

IN THE 

KINGDOM OF BRASS, 

ARRANGED IN 

CHEONOLOGICAL ORDEE. 



KINGS OF MACEDON. 



B.C. 

Cassander, 317 

Philip IV, 298 

Alexander and Antipator, 297 

Demetrius, 294 

Lysimachus, 288 

Ptolemy Ceraunus, 282 

Meleager, 280 



B.O. 

Sosthenes, 280 

Antigonus Donatus 278 

Demetrius, 242 

Antigonus Doson, 232 

Philip V, 220 

Persus, 178 

The Romans, 168 



THE LAGID^ 



Ptolemy Soter, 306 

Ptolemy Philadelphus, 285 

Ptolemy Evergetes, 248 

Ptolemy Philopator, 221 

Ptolemy Epiphanes, 204 



B.C. 



Ptolemy Lathy rus, 117 

Ptolemy Alexander L, 107 

Ptolemy Alexander II., 81 

Ptolemy Auletes, 65 

Ptolemy Berenice 68 



Ptolemy PMlometor, 180 Ptolemy and Cleopatra 61 

Ptolemy Phy scon, 145, The Romans, 30 



THE SELEUCIDiE, 



B.a 

Antiochus V., (Eupator) 164 

Demetrius Soter, 162 

Alexander Bala. 150 

Demetrius II., (Nicator,) 145 

Antiochus YI., (Eutheus), 144 



Seleucus Nicator, 300 

Antiochus Soter, 280 

Antiochus Theos, 278 

Seleucus II., (Callinicus) , 246 

Seleucus III., (Ceraunus), 226 

Antiochus III., (the Great), 223 Zebina, .' ' 130 

Seleucus IV., (Philopator), 187 1 Several kings at a time ! 

Antiochus IV., (Epiphanes) 176lThe Romans, 64 

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